³ then the Lord’s hand will bring a severe plague against your livestock in the field—the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks.

⁷ When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of Israel’s God must not stay here with us, because His hand is strongly against us and our god Dagon.”

¹¹ The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together.^(A) They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. It must return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!”^[a] For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.^(B)