1 Samuel 5:4

5:4 But when they got up early the following day, Dagon was again lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and his two hands were sheared off and were lying at the threshold. Only Dagon’s body was left intact. ¹ 

1 Samuel 7:10

7:10 As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. ²  But on that day the Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by ³  Israel.

1 Samuel 20:8

20:8 You must be loyal ⁴  to your servant, for you have made a covenant with your servant in the Lord’s name. ⁵  If I am guilty, ⁶  you yourself kill me! Why bother taking me to your father?”

[5:4]  ¹ tc Heb “only Dagon was left.” We should probably read the word גֵּו (gev, “back”) before Dagon, understanding it to have the sense of the similar word גְּוִיָּה (gÿviyyah, “body”). This variant is supported by the following evidence: The LXX has ἡ ῥάχις (Jh rJacis, “the back” or “trunk”); the Syriac Peshitta has wegusmeh (“and the body of”); the Targum has gupyeh (“the body of”); the Vulgate has truncus (“the trunk of,” cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT). On the strength of this evidence the present translation employs the phrase “Dagon’s body.”

[7:10]  ² tn Heb “approached for battle against Israel.”

[7:10]  ³ tn Heb “before.”

[20:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “and you must do loyalty.”

[20:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “for into a covenant of the Lord you have brought your servant with you.”

[20:8]  ⁶ tn Heb “and if there is in me guilt.”