Book of 1 Samuel - Chapter 5 - Verse 2

When the Philistines took the ark of God from the Israelites, they brought it into the house of Dagon, their god. Placing the ark next to the statue of Dagon was a significant act with deep symbolic meaning. The presence of the ark in Dagon's house symbolized the conquest and superiority of the Philistine god over the God of Israel. It was a way for the Philistines to assert their power and dominance not only over the Israelites but also over their beliefs and religion. By placing the ark by Dagon, the Philistines were essentially showing disrespect and contempt towards the God of Israel, considering Him to be inferior to their own god. This action ultimately led to a series of events that demonstrated that no false god can stand in the presence of the Almighty God.

The theological interpretation of the verse "When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon," highlights the clash between the worship of the one true God of Israel and the false god of the Philistines, Dagon. The Philistines' act of placing the ark next to Dagon symbolizes their attempt to assert the superiority of their god over the God of Israel. However, this action ultimately leads to their downfall as Dagon falls prostrate before the ark in a symbolic gesture of submission to the true God. This event serves as a powerful reminder of the futility of worshiping false gods and the ultimate victory of the one true God.