In the ancient world, sickness and plagues were often attributed to the hand of a god.1 With the statement that the Lord’s hand was heavy against the people of Ashdod we are meant to understand that the Lord is the one who is afflicting the people of the city. Dagon has lost his hands, but the Lord’s hand is wreaking havoc.2 Dagon cannot protect Philistia from the Lord.3
6 The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.