Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Samuel · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Verſ. 2. WHen the Philiſtines took the ark of God, they brought it into the houſe of Dagon, and ſet it by Dagon.] This they did either in contempt of the ark, preſenting it as a captive before their Dagon, by whoſe help they perſwaded themſelves it was, that they had overcome both the Hebrews and their God; or elſe out of a kind of reverence they bare to this God of the Hebrews, whom therefore they thought good to place with Dagon in his Temple. Whence alſo perhaps it was, that they feared to offer any violence to it, by opening it and taking forth thoſe holy things that were in it.
Verſ. 3. Behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord.] And hereby did the Lord diſcover to the Philiſtines what a vain idol their Dagon was, and that the God of Iſrael was the onelyonly true almightie God; yea the more the Lord was magnified herein, becauſe he caſt down this idol-god in his own temple, enemies being never foyled with more glorie to the conquerour then when they are overcome in their own dominions. Beſides, the ark being a type of Chriſt, by whom God reveales his will unto men in the miniſterie of the Goſpel, the fall of Dagon before the ark, did notably ſhadow forth the ruine of idolatrie, by the preaching of the Goſpel; God will not ſuffer any rivall-gods to ſtand cheek by jowl with him, but when the Goſpel comes in, idolatrie ſhall down.
And they took Dagon and ſet him in his place again.] Had Dagon fallen but once, being at firſt daſhed in pieces, they might have pretended that it came by ſome caſualtie; but now when upon the firſt fall they ſet it up again, and no doubt uſed all the skill they could to faſten it; this made it beyond all excuſe manifeſt, that by the mightie power of God onelyonly it was beaten down.
Verſ. 4. And the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threſhold, &c.] The head, the ſeat of wiſedome, and the hands, wherewith the ſtrength of man is put forth were cut off, to ſhew that there was neither knowledge nor power in this their idol-god. Beſides, now the prieſts could not ſet up their idol again, and conceal his overthrow from the people, as before perhaps they did. By caſting the head and hands upon the threſhold, that thoſe that entred might preſently trample upon them, the Lord ſhewed the baſeneſſe of this their idol-god; or that he would have this ſpectacle ſcarre them from coming any more into that Temple for that groſſe idolatry, whereto they had formerly given themſelves. As for that laſt clauſe, onelyonly the stump of Dagon was left to him, in the Originall it is onelyonly Dagon remained, the ground whereof may be, becauſe the moſt of the idol that remained, was the fiſhie part. For Dag ſignifieth a fiſh; now becauſe this idol was ſo called, in regard that in the nether parts it reſembled a fiſh, the hands and head being cut off, it is ſaid that onelyonly Dagon remained: ſee the note. Judges 16.23.
Verſ. 5. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagons houſe, tread on the threſhold, &c.] This they did either by way of veneration, as accounting the threſhold ſanctified by the touch of the head and hands of their idol; or rather by way of deteſtation, as thinking that it was the falling of their idol upon the threſhold, that had daſhed it in pieces (for why elſe ſhould they not as well have forborn to tread upon the pavement, where the body of their idol lay?) however thus by the alruling Providence of God, even their ſuperſtition, became a means to perpetuate the memorie of this wonderfull work of God in the confuſion of their idol, which otherwiſe within ſome ſhort time, might have been forgotten.
Verſ. 6. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Aſhdod, and he destroyed them, and ſmote them with emerods.] Becauſe that the Lord had ſo clearly diſcovered to the men of Aſhdod, that their Dagon was a vain idol, and that the God of Iſrael, whoſe ark they had boldly ſurprized, was the onelyonly true almighty God, to wit, by caſting down their idol before the Ark, and at laſt breaking it in pieces; and yet notwithſtanding they continued ſtill as ſuperſtitiouſly devoted to their idol, as they were before, and were not afraid ſtill to detain the ark of God in captivity, as at the firſt: therefore now the Lord began to take vengeance on the men of Aſhdod, the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the men of Aſhdod. &c. Many Expoſitours underſtand the next words, and he destroyed them, of the plague of mice, wherewith alſo that this time he deſtroyed and waſted their land, chap. 6.5. and others of ſome other mortall diſeaſe, which God ſent amongſt them, beſides the emerods: but I rather conceive, that all the following words are meant of the plague of the emerods, wherewith God ſmote them, and he deſtroyed them, and ſmote them with emerods; onelyonly theſe words, and he deſtroyed them, are prefixed to make known, that this diſeaſe of the emerods was amongſt them not onelyonly painfull and diſgracefull, Pſal. 78.66. And he ſmote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetuall ſhame; but mortall alſo, ſo that many died of them, and therefore the Ekronites cried out, verſ. 10. They have brought about the Ark of the God of Iſrael to us, to ſlay us and our people.
Verſ. 8. And they anſwered, Let the Ark of the God of Iſrael, be carried about unto Gath.] This the Lords of the Philiſtines reſolved upon, to try hereby whether it were the preſence of the ark that had cauſed thoſe plagues; or whether they came by chance; with which conceit as yet they chuckered themſelves; elſe the Princes of Gath, who were in this counſell amongſt the other Lords of the Philiſtines, would never have conſented to the removing of the Ark to their city.
Verſ. 11. Send away the Ark of the God of Iſrael, &c.] The men of Ekron being fully now convinced, that it was becauſe of the Ark, that ſo much miſery was fallen on them; deſire plainly, that it might be ſent back to the land of Iſrael: but it ſeems their Princes, loth yet to part with ſuch a glorious trophee of their victory; deſired to try yet a little further; for that after this it was ſent both to Gaza and Aſhkelon, is evident: chap. 6. verſ. 4. Then ſaid they, What ſhall be the treſpaſſe-offering which we ſhall return to him? They anſwered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your Lords: and again verſ. 17. And theſe are the golden emerods which the Philiſtines returned for a treſpaſſe-offering unto the Lord; for Aſhdod one, for Gaza one, for Aſhkelon one, &c.
Verſ. 12. And the men that died not, were ſmitten with the emerods.] The meaning of this may be, that there were many ſmitten with the emerods, beſides thoſe that died of them; or elſe we muſt hold that there was ſome other deadly diſeaſe which God ſent amongſt them beſides the emerods, which is called in the foregoing verſe, a deadly destruction.