Bible Strands
1 Samuel 5:1
After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator reports the Philistines' actions immediately after their military victory, moving the captured ark from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
The words — The Hebrew לָֽקְח֔וּ (la.khe.Chu) means "they took," and מֵ/אֶ֥בֶן הָ/עֵ֖זֶר (me./'e.ven ha./'e.zer) literally renders "from Eben-ezer."
The thread — This movement follows the Israelite defeat at the camp where they first gathered to fight the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:1) and later contrasts with Samuel's stone memorial at the same location (1 Samuel 7:12).
Why it lands — The text records the physical relocation of a sacred object into enemy territory without theological commentary, requiring the reader to note the geographic shift before the narrative continues in 1 Samuel 5:2.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben–ezer unto Ashdod.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
- 1 Samuel 4:1 Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.
- Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;
- 1 Samuel 4:22 “The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “for the ark of God has been captured.”
- Joshua 11:22 No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive.
- 1 Samuel 4:11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
- 1 Samuel 4:17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
- Acts 8:40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
- Psalms 78:61 He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.