Bible Trivia - 10/29/2008

Question: What was the name of the pagan god worshiped by the Philistines during the time of Samson?

Answer: Dagon. (Judges 16:22-30)

Comments: Dagon was a major northwest Semitic god associated with agriculture and grain. The Hebrew dāgān and the Samaritan dīgan are both archaic words for grain and some have connected them to the deity. Traditionally Dagon was associated with fish and represented with the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish. See image.

Dagon was worshiped by the early Amorites and was also a major component, and perhaps head, of the pantheon of gods worshiped by the Philistines. Dagon is referenced thirteen times in the Old Testament, including in conjunction with the Samson story.

Now the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice, for they said,"Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands." (Judges 16:23, NASB)

Samson's last act before dying was destroying the temple of Dagon. (Judges 16:28-31)