Afterthey had broughtit around,the handof the LORDwas against the citywith verygreatconfusion;and He smotethe menof the city,bothyoungand old,so that tumorsbrokeout on them.
He droveHis adversariesbackward;He puton them an everlastingreproach.
As whena manfleesfrom a lionAnd a bearmeetshim, Or goeshome,leanshis handagainstthe wallAnd a snakebiteshim.
"Moreoverthe handof the LORDwas against them, to destroythem from withinthe campuntilthey all perished.
"Ifyou will not listento the voiceof the LORD,but rebelagainstthe commandof the LORD,then the handof the LORDwill be against you, [as it was] against your fathers.
So they sentthe arkof Godto Ekron.And as the arkof Godcameto Ekronthe Ekronitescriedout, saying,"They have broughtthe arkof the Godof Israelaroundto us, to killus and our people."
They senttherefore and gatheredallthe lordsof the Philistinesand said,"Sendawaythe arkof the Godof Israel,and let it returnto its own place,sothat it will not killus and our people."For there was a deadlyconfusionthroughoutthe city;the handof Godwas veryheavythere.
Now the handof the LORDwas heavyon the Ashdodites,and He ravagedthem and smotethem with tumors,both Ashdodand its territories.
They putthe arkof the LORDon the cart,and the boxwith the goldenmiceand the likenessesof their tumors.
So the Philistineswere subduedand they didnot comeanymorewithin the borderof Israel.And the handof the LORDwas against the Philistinesallthe daysof Samuel.
