All of Israel mourned the loss of the Ark as it was dragged to the city of Ashdod. There, they placed it at the feet of their god, Dagon. The next morning their statue of Dagon had fallen and was bowing before the Ark of God. The hand of God was heavy against The Philistines, and He afflicted them with plagues of tumors and rats. And so the Philistines, recognizing what Israel and Egypt did not, send the Ark of God back to Israel with gifts to honor God and beg for His forgiveness—teaching us rightly to fear God and not take His name or power lightly.
