When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
Ver. 2. They brought it into the house of Dagon.] Which some a will have to be Iupiter Aratrius sive Frumentarius, - called Dagon of Dagan, which signifieth grain, - because he taught them the use of the plough, and of tillage, Others, b to be Triton, a sea god, - the Philistines or Phenicians were situate by the sea side, and worshipped fishes, as Xenophon, Siculus, and Cicero testify, - called Dagon of Dagah, a fish, because they made him like a man upward, and downward like a fish, whence that of Virgil,
“ Frons hominem praefert, in pristin desinit alvus. ”
And set it by Dagon.] Tanquam Iovi Feretrio spolia opima, as consecrating it unto their idol for a chief spoil.
a Euseb., Lel., Gyral., Arias, Pagnin., Jerome, Abulens, Adrichom.
b Ibid.