1 Samuel 5:2

“When the Philistines took the ark of God, etc.] And had brought it to Ashdod: they brought it into the house of Dagon; a temple dedicated to that idol, and in which his image stood; of which (see Gill on “<071623>Judges 16:23”), and set it by Dagon; by the side of him, either in honour to the ark, as Abarbinel, designing to give it homage and adoration, as to their own deity; for though the Gentiles did not choose to change their gods, yet they would add the gods of other nations to them; and such the Philistines might take the ark to be: or else, as Procopius Gazaeus, they brought it into their idol’s temple, as a trophy of victory, and as a spoil taken from their enemies, and which they…”

“the house of Dagon--Stately temples were erected in honor of this idol, which was the principal deity of the Philistines, but whose worship extended over all Syria, as well as Mesopotamia and Chaldea; its name being found among the Assyrian gods on the cuneiform inscriptions [RAWLINSON]. It was represented under a monstrous combination of a human head, breast, and arms, joined to the belly and tail of a fish. The captured ark was placed in the temple of Dagon, right before this image of the idol.”

“They brought it into the house of Dagon (see the marginal reference) in order to enhance the triumph of the gods of the Philistines over the God of Israel. (Compare 1 Samuel 31:9; Judges 16:23; Isaiah 37:12.) return to 'Top of Page'”

“By Dagon - By way of reproach, as a spoil and trophy set there to the honour of Dagon, to whom doubtless they ascribed this victory. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 5:3”

“5:2 Dagon was one of the Philistines’ gods (see Judg 16:23-24). The name could be related to the Hebrew dag (“fish”), an appropriate name for a god of seafaring people. More likely, it reflects the Hebrew dagan (“grain”), suggesting a fertility or agriculture god.”

“of Dagon: Jdg 16:23; Ch1 10:10; Dan 5:2, Dan 5:23; Hab 1:11, Hab 1:16 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 5:3”