Verses 1-5

1 – Why did the Philistines set the ark in Dagon's temple? What power did they think it had? How could they use it?

2 – Why does Yahweh, the almighty creator of the universe, bother with a statue of a fake God? What is He trying to communicate to the Philistines? To us?

3 – Why do humans worship idols? What idols do we worship today?

4 – How does Dagon falling a second time and breaking off is head and hands communicate his worthlessness and impotence?

Verses 6-12

5 – What do the Philistines already know about the history of the ark? (see 1 Sam 4:8) How does a plague among the Philistines reinforce what they already know about God?

6 – Why are the Philistines reluctant to simply return the ark to Israel? Why are we reluctant to give up our idols?