Today's Readings: 1 Samuel 5-6 | Isaiah 51 | Revelation 12-13

Reading 1 - 1Sa 5:4

"But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained" (1Sa 5:4).

What happened to Dagon also happened to Goliath (1Sa 17:49) -- as though he were merely one more "god" of the Philistines!

Dagon's head and hands were broken off. Likewise, Goliath's head was cut off by David; and his sword (that is, his "hands" or "arms") were confiscated by the enemy.

For that matter, consider also the fate of Eli: 1Sa 4:18.

Eli's two "arms" (his sons: 1Sa 2:31,34) were both cut off -- this is comparable to the destruction of Dagon, whose hands were broken off.

It is as though two "idolatries" are being portrayed here: Jewish and Philistine! Eli's neck was broken; and then Dagon's head was broken off. Eli's 2 sons -- his "arms" -- were cut off; and then Dagon's arms were broken off. First the Ark departs from Israel; then, a bit later, it also departs from Philistia.