Why the Philistines Set the Ark Beside Dagon

Midrash Shmuel 11:4

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And the Philistines took the Ark of God, etc." (1 Samuel 5:1). Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish [differed]. Rabbi Yochanan said: They honored it. They said, "This one is a god and this one is a god; let the god come and dwell beside the god." Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Would that be their reward? Rather, they said, "This one is victor and this one is vanquished; let the vanquished come and be made to serve the victor."

Themes

IdolatryNoahSamsonAdam EveTemple

Biblical References

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