158 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

they went early to the temple of their god, they saw the
image again fallen down, with both its head and hands off;
there only remained the stump or tail, the part of Dagon
that was like a fish. Besides the disgrace that was
thrown upon their god, the people of Ashdod were
smitten with sore diseases, so they resolved to get rid of
the ark. It was agreed that it should be carried to
Gath. The same calamities attended it there; many of
the inhabitants died, so they carried it to Ekron. When
the Ekronites saw it coming, they cried out—* They have
brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay
us and our people.” They called on the lords of the
Philistines, and told them to send the ark away to its
own place, for the hand of God was very heavy upon
the people.

Johnnie. But why did they always take it into a
town? They should have put it far away from all the
houses.

Grandfather. Some tell us that they did try that, and
that multitudes of mice sprung up from the ground, and
destroyed the corn, which was now nearly ripe. Seven
months the Philistines had the ark, and they had far
greater cause of rejoicing for its departure than for its
arrival. They made a new cart, and tied to it two milk
cows, which never had before been yoked. The ark was
put in the cart, and the Philistines said to each other,
that if the cows took the direct road to the land of Israel,
they would then know that the plagues that had afflicted
them had come from the God of Israel. They took the