Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The First Book of Kingdoms, Chapter 5ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΩΝ Α′ Ε′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

The captured ark humiliates Dagon and strikes the Philistines, vindicating the Lord among the nations.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of 1 Kingdoms (= 1 Samuel) 5 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. 1 Kingdoms 5 narrates the fortunes of the captured ark of God in Philistine (ἀλλόφυλοι, lit. 'other-tribed / foreigners') territory: at Ashdod (Ἄζωτος) it is placed beside the idol Dagon (Δαγων), whose image twice falls prostrate (πεπτωκὼς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ) before it — the second time decapitated, with both palms (τὰ ἴχνη χειρῶν) severed on the threshold (the rare Hebrew loanword αμαφεθ transliterating מִפְתָּן, 'threshold'), so that only the ῥάχις ('trunk / spine') remains, the etiology of the threshold-leaping custom (v. 5). The hand of the LORD (χεὶρ κυρίου, rendering יַד־יְהוָה) lies heavy on the cities and strikes them εἰς τὰς ἕδρας ('in the seats' = tumors / hemorrhoids, LXX ἕδρα for the Hebrew עֳפָלִים / טְחֹרִים). The LXX preserves a distinctive textual plus at v. 6, naming the mice (μύες) that overran the land — a detail elsewhere reserved for the golden images of chapter 6 — and presents the panic as σύγχυσις θανάτου ('a deathly confusion'). A further notable text-critical feature of this Greek tradition (Codex Vaticanus) is that at vv. 10–12 the ark is sent not to Ekron (so MT) but εἰς Ἀσκαλῶνα ('to Ascalon'), and the inhabitants are οἱ Ἀσκαλωνῖται. The polemic against Dagon is sharply drawn: the dead idol cannot keep its own posture before YHWH's throne-chest, while the living God's hand brings plague, panic, and finally a cry that 'went up to heaven' (ἀνέβη ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, v. 12), the inverse of Israel's own cry of distress.

1

καὶ ἀλλόφυλοι ἔλαβον τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ εἰσήνεγκαν αὐτὴν ἐξ Αβεννεζερ εἰς Ἄζωτον

And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

New narrative episode (main storyline, picking up from the capture in ch. 4)καὶ ἀλλόφυλοι ἔλαβον
The chapter opens with paratactic καί and a fronted subject ἀλλόφυλοι ('the Philistines'), shifting the focus from Israel's defeat (ch. 4) to the captors' handling of the ark. The two coordinated aorists ἔλαβον … εἰσήνεγκαν ('took … brought') trace the ark's transfer from the battlefield site Ebenezer into the Philistine heartland at Ashdod.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistines / foreignersNominativesubject (fronted before the verb)→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: lit. 'of another tribe / foreigner'; the standard LXX rendering of פְּלִשְׁתִּים ('Philistines') in Samuel–Kings; the term carries an ethnic-religious otherness ('the alien people') that sharpens the contrast with Israel and the ark of YHWH throughout the chapter.
ἔλαβονtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: 'take / seize'; renders לָקַח; here the taking is the act of war-booty appropriation — the Philistines treat YHWH's ark as a captured trophy, the premise the rest of the chapter ironically overturns.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβον→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'chest / box / ark'; the standard LXX rendering of אֲרוֹן (the ark of the covenant) and also of Noah's תֵּבָה; here the ark of God, the throne-footstool of YHWH's presence, is the grammatical object of pagan seizure — the chapter's central irony.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (the ark belonging to God)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the phrase κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ('ark of God') recurs as a refrain through the chapter, keeping the true owner of the captured object in view even while it is in foreign hands.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσήνεγκανbrought inAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσφέρωmain verb (coordinate with ἔλαβον)→ verbal action or stateεἰσφέρω: 'bring in / carry into'; the compound εἰσ- marks motion into a place; renders הֵבִיא; the verb anticipates the next stage (the ark brought into Dagon's temple, v. 2), and frames Ashdod as the entry point of the ark into Philistine territory.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (resumptive pronoun for κιβωτόν)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (resumptive pronoun for κιβωτόν).
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (point of departure, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (point of departure, elided before vowel).
ΑβεννεζερEbenezergenitive object of ἐξ (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΑβεννεζερ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר ('Ebenezer / stone of help'); indeclinable in the LXX; the battlefield staging-site where Israel was defeated and the ark captured (ch. 4); ironically named 'stone of help' yet the place of Israel's loss.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (direction / goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction / goal).
ἌζωτονAshdodAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of motion)→ object specificationἌζωτος: the LXX form of Hebrew אַשְׁדּוֹד (Ashdod), one of the five Philistine cities; a declinable second-declension proper noun (acc. Ἄζωτον); the first of the three cities through which the ark passes in this chapter.
2

καὶ ἔλαβον ἀλλόφυλοι τὴν κιβωτὸν κυρίου καὶ εἰσήνεγκαν αὐτὴν εἰς οἶκον Δαγων καὶ παρέστησαν αὐτὴν παρὰ Δαγων

And the Philistines took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon.

Continuation: the ark installed in Dagon's temple (main storyline)καὶ ἔλαβον ἀλλόφυλοι
v. 2 resumes with the same verb-pair ἔλαβον … εἰσήνεγκαν as v. 1, now specifying the destination — εἰς οἶκον Δαγων ('into the house of Dagon'). The third verb παρέστησαν ('they set [it] beside') stages the confrontation: the captured ark is positioned beside the victorious-seeming idol, an act of homage to Dagon that the next verses will violently reverse.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβονtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ verbal action or stateλαμβάνω: repeats the verb of v. 1, resuming the action to specify the ark's placement within Dagon's temple.
ἀλλόφυλοιPhilistinesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistines / foreigners'; see v. 1; the repetition keeps the pagan agents in view as they install the ark in their cult-center.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1; here qualified by κυρίου ('of the LORD'), heightening the offense of placing YHWH's throne-chest in a pagan shrine.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (the ark belonging to YHWH)→ relational specificationκύριος: here the LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the variation κιβωτὸς κυρίου (v. 2) / κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ (vv. 1, 3) names the same object by both divine titles, asserting YHWH's ownership precisely as the Philistines subordinate it to Dagon.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσήνεγκανbrought inAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσφέρωmain verb (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateεἰσφέρω: 'bring into'; see v. 1; the goal is now made explicit as Dagon's temple.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object (resumptive pronoun)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (resumptive pronoun).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
οἶκονhouse / templeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house'; here the temple of a deity (οἶκος Δαγων = 'house/temple of Dagon'), the standard LXX idiom for a cultic building (cf. οἶκος κυρίου for the temple of YHWH); the parallel underscores the contest between the two 'houses' and their gods.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'house of Dagon')→ participant identificationΔαγων: transliteration of Hebrew דָּגוֹן (Dagon), the chief Philistine deity (associated with grain, possibly with דָּג 'fish' by later etymology); indeclinable in the LXX, here functioning as a genitive ('of Dagon'); the idol's name recurs eight times in this chapter as the foil to YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρέστησανset / placed besideAor Act Indic 3 Pl · παρίστημιmain verb (third in the sequence)→ verbal action or stateπαρίστημι: 'set / place beside / present'; the transitive aorist παρέστησαν here means 'they stationed/set [the ark] beside [Dagon]'; the placement παρὰ Δαγων ('next to Dagon') stages the idol as the ark's would-be host and superior — the very arrangement that the falling of Dagon (vv. 3–4) overthrows.
αὐτὴνitAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
παρὰbesidepreposition + accusative (position: 'beside / next to')→ spatial or relational framingπαρά + accusative: 'beside / alongside'; marks the ark's placement next to the idol, the spatial premise for the repeated falling of Dagon 'before' (ἐνώπιον) the ark.
ΔαγωνDagonaccusative object of παρά (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see above; indeclinable, here object of παρά.
3

καὶ ὤρθρισαν οἱ Ἀζώτιοι καὶ εἰσῆλθον εἰς οἶκον Δαγων καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ Δαγων πεπτωκὼς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον κιβωτοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἤγειραν τὸν Δαγων καὶ κατέστησαν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐβαρύνθη χεὶρ κυρίου ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἀζωτίους καὶ ἐβασάνισεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰς ἕδρας αὐτῶν τὴν Ἄζωτον καὶ τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς

And the Ashdodites rose early and entered into the house of Dagon and looked, and behold, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of God; and they raised up Dagon and set him in his place. And the hand of the LORD was heavy upon the Ashdodites, and he tormented them, and he struck them with tumors, Ashdod and its borders.

Discovery scene + first stroke of judgment (main storyline)καὶ ὤρθρισαν οἱ Ἀζώτιοι
v. 3 unfolds in two movements. First, the discovery: the citizens rise, enter, look, and behold (ἰδού, the deictic marker introducing the surprising sight) Dagon fallen prostrate before the ark; they restore the idol to its place. Second, the LORD's hand grows heavy (ἐβαρύνθη χεὶρ κυρίου) and he afflicts them with tumors — already in this Greek text the plague begins at Ashdod before the second falling of Dagon.
Word-by-word analysis· 55 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὤρθρισανrose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀρθρίζωmain verb→ verbal action or stateὀρθρίζω: 'rise early / do early in the morning'; renders הִשְׁכִּים; from ὄρθρος ('dawn'); the early rising sets the scene for the first discovery of the fallen idol and recurs at v. 4.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἈζώτιοιAshdoditesNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἈζώτιος: 'Ashdodite / inhabitant of Ashdod'; gentilic noun/adjective formed from Ἄζωτος; declinable (nom. pl. Ἀζώτιοι); the citizens who discover the fallen Dagon.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰσῆλθονenteredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in / enter'; renders בּוֹא; the entry into Dagon's temple precedes the shocked discovery.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
οἶκονhouse / templeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / temple'; see v. 2.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδονsaw / lookedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see / look'; renders רָאָה; the verb of perception sets up the ἰδού-clause that reports what they saw.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the deictic ἰδού)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholddeictic interjection (presentative)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold / look'; a frozen aorist imperative of ὁράω functioning as a presentative particle; renders הִנֵּה; here it dramatizes the citizens' point of view, presenting the astonishing sight of the fallen idol as if before the reader's eyes.
ΔαγωνDagonsubject of the participial clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2; here the subject of the periphrastic-like participial construction Δαγων πεπτωκώς ('Dagon [was/lay] fallen').
πεπτωκὼςfallenPerf Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · πίπτωpredicate participle (resultative state of Δαγων)→ verbal action or stateπίπτω (perf. ptc. πεπτωκώς): 'fall / fall down'; renders נָפַל; the perfect participle denotes not the act of falling but the abiding state — Dagon is found already lying prostrate; the posture ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ('on his face') is that of worship/prostration, so the idol involuntarily 'worships' before the ark.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (idiomatic: 'on his face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; the idiom πεσεῖν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ('fall on the face') renders נָפַל עַל־פָּנָיו, the posture of prostration and homage; the idol's forced prostration before YHWH's ark is the heart of the chapter's polemic.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying πρόσωπον)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying πρόσωπον).
ἐνώπιονbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (position: 'before')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the idol lies prostrate 'before the ark of God', the spatial expression of YHWH's supremacy over Dagon.
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1; the object before which the idol is humbled.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤγειρανraised upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγείρωmain verb→ verbal action or stateἐγείρω: 'raise / lift up'; renders הֵקִים / הֶעֱמִיד; the citizens must physically prop up their fallen god — a quietly devastating detail: the deity who should support his worshippers cannot even keep his own footing.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with indeclinable Δαγων)→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΔαγωνDagondirect object of ἤγειραν (indeclinable, marked accusative by article τόν)→ noun-phrase markingΔαγων: see v. 2; the article τόν supplies the accusative case-marking for the otherwise indeclinable name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κατέστησανset / restoredAor Act Indic 3 Pl · καθίστημιmain verb (coordinate)→ verbal action or stateκαθίστημι: 'set down / establish / restore'; the transitive aorist 'they set [him] back'; the citizens restore Dagon εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ('to his place'), an action futilely repeated, since the next morning brings a worse collapse (v. 4).
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationτόπος: 'place / position'; renders מָקוֹם; the idol's pedestal-position, to which it is restored only to fall again.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (shift to the divine stroke)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβαρύνθηwas heavy / grew heavyAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · βαρύνωmain verb (the hand of the LORD as subject)→ verbal action or stateβαρύνω (aor. pass.): 'make heavy / weigh down'; the passive ἐβαρύνθη χεὶρ κυρίου renders וַתִּכְבַּד יַד־יְהוָה ('the hand of the LORD grew heavy'); the idiom 'heavy hand' denotes oppressive divine judgment; the same clause opens v. 6, structuring the plague-account.
χεὶρhandNominativesubject of ἐβαρύνθη→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; renders יָד; the anthropomorphism 'hand of the LORD' (χεὶρ κυρίου) denotes YHWH's active power in judgment; a leitmotif of the chapter (vv. 3, 6, 7, 9).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose hand)→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive identifies the agent of the affliction as YHWH himself.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἈζωτίουςAshdoditesAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationἈζώτιος: 'Ashdodite'; see above; the object of the heavy hand.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβασάνισενtormentedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · βασανίζωmain verb (subject: the LORD / his hand)→ verbal action or stateβασανίζω: 'torment / torture / test by torture'; originally 'test with the touchstone (βάσανος)'; here of the painful affliction the LORD brings on the Ashdodites; the shift to a singular verb takes YHWH (or his hand) as subject.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; renders הִכָּה / נָגַף; the standard LXX verb for a divinely inflicted blow or plague; here the LORD strikes the Ashdodites εἰς τὰς ἕδρας ('with tumors').
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςin / withpreposition + accusative (respect / result: 'in/with respect to the tumors')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (respect / result: 'in/with respect to the tumors').
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἕδραςtumors / seatsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (affliction inflicted)→ object specificationἕδρα: lit. 'seat / sitting-part / fundament'; here a euphemistic LXX rendering of עֳפָלִים / טְחֹרִים ('tumors / hemorrhoids'), the painful swellings (perhaps bubonic, given the accompanying mice of v. 6) afflicting the lower body; the term recurs at vv. 6, 9, 12 as the signature plague of the chapter.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἕδρας)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἕδρας).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (with Ἄζωτον, in apposition / accusative of extent)→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἌζωτονAshdodAccusativeaccusative of extent / specification (the territory struck: 'Ashdod and its borders')→ object specificationἌζωτος: 'Ashdod'; see v. 1; here naming the whole city as struck, broadening the affliction from persons to the territory.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborders / territoryAccusativeaccusative (coordinate with Ἄζωτον: the surrounding region)→ object specificationὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / border / territory'; renders גְּבוּל; the phrase 'Ashdod and its borders' (cf. the same idiom of Egypt at Exod 10:14) signals that the plague reached not only the city but its whole surrounding district.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ὅρια; fem. referring to Ἄζωτος)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ὅρια; fem. referring to Ἄζωτος).
4

καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε ὤρθρισαν τὸ πρωί καὶ ἰδοὺ Δαγων πεπτωκὼς ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον κιβωτοῦ διαθήκης κυρίου καὶ ἡ κεφαλὴ Δαγων καὶ ἀμφότερα τὰ ἴχνη χειρῶν αὐτοῦ ἀφῃρημένα ἐπὶ τὰ ἐμπρόσθια αμαφεθ ἕκαστον καὶ ἀμφότεροι οἱ καρποὶ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ πεπτωκότες ἐπὶ τὸ πρόθυρον πλὴν ἡ ῥάχις Δαγων ὑπελείφθη

And it happened, when they rose early in the morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands had been cut off upon the threshold, each one, and both the wrists of his hands had fallen upon the doorway; only the trunk of Dagon was left.

Second discovery: the decisive mutilation of Dagon (main storyline)καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε
The temporal frame καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε ('and it came to pass when', rendering וַיְהִי כִּי) introduces the climactic second morning. The escalation is total: not merely fallen, the idol is now decapitated and dismembered, with head and palms severed on the threshold and only the ῥάχις ('trunk / spine') remaining — the irreversible defeat of Dagon before the ark of the covenant.
Word-by-word analysis· 49 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοit happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. ἐγένετο): 'become / happen / come to pass'; the formula καὶ ἐγένετο renders the Hebrew narrative wayyhî (וַיְהִי), a temporal-scene-setting device introducing a new significant event.
ὅτεwhentemporal conjunction (introducing the time-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτε: 'when'; subordinates the rising-early clause to the main ἰδού-report; with ἐγένετο it forms the standard LXX temporal frame.
ὤρθρισανthey rose earlyAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὀρθρίζωverb of the temporal clause→ verbal action or stateὀρθρίζω: 'rise early'; see v. 3; the repeated early rising marks the second, decisive morning.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with adverbial πρωί)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρωίearly / in the morningadverb of time (accusative of time with article: 'in the morning')→ clausal contributionπρωί: 'early / in the morning'; an indeclinable adverb; the phrase τὸ πρωί ('in the morning') reinforces ὤρθρισαν, pinpointing the dawn discovery.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (apodosis marker after temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἰδοὺbeholddeictic interjection (presentative)→ clausal contributionἰδού: 'behold'; see v. 3; reintroduces the citizens' shocked viewpoint, now before an even more drastic scene.
ΔαγωνDagonsubject of the participial clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
πεπτωκὼςfallenPerf Act Ptc Nom Masc Sg · πίπτωpredicate participle (state of Δαγων)→ verbal action or stateπίπτω: see v. 3; the repeated πεπτωκώς links the two mornings, but now the falling is compounded by mutilation.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (position).
πρόσωπονfaceAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (idiomatic: 'on his face')→ object specificationπρόσωπον: 'face'; see v. 3.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (position)→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: 'before'; see v. 3; now qualified by the fuller title κιβωτοῦ διαθήκης κυρίου ('ark of the covenant of the LORD').
κιβωτοῦarkGenitivegenitive object of ἐνώπιον→ relational specificationκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
διαθήκηςof the covenantGenitivegenitive (qualifying κιβωτοῦ: 'ark of the covenant')→ relational specificationδιαθήκη: 'covenant / testament'; renders בְּרִית; the full title κιβωτὸς διαθήκης κυρίου ('ark of the covenant of the LORD') stresses, at the moment of Dagon's destruction, that this chest embodies YHWH's covenant presence — the very thing the idol cannot withstand.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the covenant and the ark belong to YHWH.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the dismemberment detail)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κεφαλὴheadNominativesubject (with ἀφῃρημένα: 'the head ... had been removed')→ participant prominenceκεφαλή: 'head'; renders רֹאשׁ; the decapitation of the idol is the decisive sign of its conquest — Dagon is, literally, beheaded before the ark.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'head of Dagon')→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεραbothNominativeadjective (modifying τὰ ἴχνη: 'both the palms')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι, -αι, -α: 'both'; the neuter plural ἀμφότερα agrees with τὰ ἴχνη; emphasises that the idol lost both hands, total incapacitation.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἴχνηpalms / solesNominativesubject (coordinate with ἡ κεφαλή)→ participant prominenceἴχνος (pl. ἴχνη): lit. 'track / footprint / sole'; here 'the flat parts (palms) of his hands' (ἴχνη χειρῶν), rendering כַּפּוֹת יָדָיו ('the palms of his hands'); the severing of head and both palms leaves the idol unable to think, see, or act.
χειρῶνof handsGenitivegenitive (partitive/possessive: 'palms of the hands')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; see v. 3; here the genitive plural specifying which palms.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ἀφῃρημέναcut off / removedPerf Pass Ptc Nom Neut Pl · ἀφαιρέωpredicate participle (state of head and palms: 'had been cut off')→ verbal action or stateἀφαιρέω (perf. pass. ptc.): 'take away / remove / cut off'; the neuter plural ἀφῃρημένα agrees with τὰ ἴχνη (and constructio ad sensum with κεφαλή); the perfect passive denotes the completed, abiding state of dismemberment; the passive leaves the agent unnamed — implicitly YHWH's power.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (location of the severed parts)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location of the severed parts).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐμπρόσθιαfront parts / forecourtAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the front portion of the threshold)→ object specificationἐμπρόσθιος: 'in front / front part'; the substantivized neuter plural τὰ ἐμπρόσθια denotes 'the front part' (here of the threshold/entrance); glossing the obscure following loanword αμαφεθ, it locates the severed pieces at the very forefront of the doorway.
αμαφεθamapheth (the threshold)transliterated Hebrew loanword (in apposition / explanatory: 'the threshold')→ clausal contributionαμαφεθ: an untranslated transliteration of Hebrew מִפְתָּן ('threshold / sill'); indeclinable; the translator carried the Hebrew term across phonetically rather than rendering it, then glossed it with τὰ ἐμπρόσθια ('the front part'); it names the very threshold whose sanctity the next verse explains.
ἕκαστονeach oneNominativedistributive pronoun/adjective (apposed to the severed parts: 'each one')→ participant referenceἕκαστος: 'each / every one'; here distributive, stressing that each severed piece (head, both palms) lay separately upon the threshold.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμφότεροιbothNominativeadjective (modifying οἱ καρποί: 'both the wrists')→ participant prominenceἀμφότεροι: 'both'; see above; the masculine plural agrees with οἱ καρποί.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρποὶwristsNominativesubject (with πεπτωκότες: 'both the wrists had fallen')→ participant prominenceκαρπός: here not 'fruit' but 'wrist' (καρπός χειρός = the wrist-joint), rendering the wrists of the hands; the repetition (palms cut off, wrists fallen) intensifies the picture of total dismemberment.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειρῶνof handsGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'wrists of the hands')→ relational specificationχείρ: 'hand'; see v. 3.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
πεπτωκότεςfallenPerf Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · πίπτωpredicate participle (state of the wrists: 'had fallen')→ verbal action or stateπίπτω (perf. ptc. masc. pl.): see v. 3; agrees with οἱ καρποί; the wrists too lie fallen upon the doorway.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (location).
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόθυρονdoorway / porchAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (location of the fallen wrists)→ object specificationπρόθυρον: 'doorway / vestibule / space before the door'; from πρό + θύρα; here the entrance area of Dagon's temple, parallel to the threshold (αμαφεθ); the dismembered parts come to rest precisely at the boundary that v. 5 will declare sacrosanct.
πλὴνonly / exceptadversative/exceptive particle (introducing the remainder)→ discourse linkage or contrastπλήν: 'only / except / nevertheless'; introduces the sole remaining part of the idol, sharpening the contrast: of the whole figure, nothing but the trunk survived.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάχιςtrunk / spineNominativesubject of ὑπελείφθη→ participant prominenceῥάχις: lit. 'backbone / spine / ridge'; here the torso or 'trunk' of the idol — all that remains once head and hands are gone; perhaps reflecting a Hebrew reading involving דָּגוֹן understood with the 'fish' part (so the later rabbinic etymology dāg, 'fish'), leaving only the fishy lower portion; the dead stump of the dethroned god.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'trunk of Dagon')→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
ὑπελείφθηwas leftAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ὑπολείπωmain verb (subject: ἡ ῥάχις)→ verbal action or stateὑπολείπω (aor. pass.): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; renders נִשְׁאַר; the passive 'was left' caps the scene: only the trunk remained, a mute monument to Dagon's defeat before the ark of the covenant.
5

διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐπιβαίνουσιν οἱ ἱερεῖς Δαγων καὶ πᾶς ὁ εἰσπορευόμενος εἰς οἶκον Δαγων ἐπὶ βαθμὸν οἴκου Δαγων ἐν Ἀζώτῳ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ὅτι ὑπερβαίνοντες ὑπερβαίνουσιν

For this reason the priests of Dagon, and everyone who enters the house of Dagon, do not tread on the threshold of the house of Dagon in Ashdod to this day, but they step over it.

Narratorial etiology (explanatory aside grounding a present custom)διὰ τοῦτο
v. 5 steps out of the narrative past into the narrator's present (ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, 'to this day') to explain a contemporary cultic practice. The inferential διὰ τοῦτο ('for this reason') grounds the threshold-leaping custom in the events of v. 4, and the closing cognate construction ὑπερβαίνοντες ὑπερβαίνουσιν ('stepping over, they step over') is a Hebraizing infinitive-absolute emphasis.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (causal, with τοῦτο)→ spatial or relational framingδιά + accusative: 'because of / on account of'; the phrase διὰ τοῦτο ('for this reason') is the standard LXX causal connector introducing an etiological explanation.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of διά, referring back to v. 4)→ participant referenceοὗτος: 'this'; the neuter τοῦτο points back to the dismemberment of Dagon as the cause of the custom now described.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating ἐπιβαίνουσιν)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the objective negative; here it negates the habitual present, stating the abiding avoidance of the threshold.
ἐπιβαίνουσινtread / step onPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐπιβαίνωmain verb (customary present)→ verbal action or stateἐπιβαίνω: 'set foot on / tread upon / mount'; the present tense reports a standing custom; the priests do not step on the threshold where the idol's severed head and hands had lain.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεῖςpriestsNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἱερεύς (pl. ἱερεῖς): 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; here the priests of Dagon, who maintain the threshold taboo; the irony is that the priesthood of the defeated god institutionalizes the memory of its humiliation.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'priests of Dagon')→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding second subject)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶςeveryone / allNominativesubject (with substantival participle: 'everyone who enters')→ participant prominenceπᾶς: 'all / every'; with the articular participle ὁ εἰσπορευόμενος it means 'everyone who enters', extending the custom beyond the priests to all worshippers.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participle)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
εἰσπορευόμενοςentering / who entersPres Mid Ptc Nom Masc Sg · εἰσπορεύομαιsubstantival participle (in apposition to πᾶς: 'everyone entering')→ verbal action or stateεἰσπορεύομαι: 'enter / go in'; the articular present participle ὁ εἰσπορευόμενος ('the one who enters') generalizes the rule to every visitor of the temple.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
οἶκονhouse / templeAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house / temple'; see v. 2.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (object of treading: 'on the threshold')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί + accusative: here completing ἐπιβαίνουσιν — 'do not step onto the threshold'.
βαθμὸνthreshold / stepAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the thing not trodden)→ object specificationβαθμός: 'step / threshold / pace'; here the raised sill of the temple doorway (= the αμαφεθ of v. 4), the place made taboo by the idol's fallen head and hands; the avoidance of this βαθμός is the practice the verse explains.
οἴκουof the houseGenitivegenitive (qualifying βαθμόν: 'threshold of the house')→ relational specificationοἶκος: 'house / temple'; see v. 2.
Δαγωνof Dagongenitive of possession (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ἈζώτῳAshdodDativedative of place (location of the temple)→ sphere or referenceἌζωτος: 'Ashdod'; see v. 1; the dative Ἀζώτῳ locates Dagon's temple in the city.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal extent)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'until / up to'; with the genitive of time marks the duration of the custom down to the narrator's own day.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal)→ relational specificationἡμέρα: 'day'; the formula ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day', rendering עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה) is a standard etiological marker confirming the persistence of the custom into the narrator's present.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (modifying ἡμέρας)→ relational specificationοὗτος: 'this'; the demonstrative fixes the reference point at the time of composition.
ὅτιbecause / butconjunction (causal/explanatory, introducing the manner of avoidance)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / that'; here it introduces the explanatory clause describing how they avoid the threshold — by stepping over it.
ὑπερβαίνοντεςstepping overPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · ὑπερβαίνωparticiple in cognate (Hebraizing) construction with ὑπερβαίνουσιν→ verbal action or stateὑπερβαίνω: 'step over / pass over / transgress'; the present participle paired with the finite ὑπερβαίνουσιν forms a Hebraizing cognate construction (rendering the infinitive absolute) — 'in stepping over, they step over' = 'they assuredly step over' the threshold rather than treading on it.
ὑπερβαίνουσινthey step overPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ὑπερβαίνωmain verb of the ὅτι-clause (customary present)→ verbal action or stateὑπερβαίνω: see above; the finite verb completes the cognate emphasis, stressing the strict and habitual observance of the threshold taboo.
6

καὶ ἐβαρύνθη χεὶρ κυρίου ἐπὶ Ἄζωτον καὶ ἐπήγαγεν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐξέζεσεν αὐτοῖς εἰς τὰς ναῦς καὶ μέσον τῆς χώρας αὐτῆς ἀνεφύησαν μύες καὶ ἐγένετο σύγχυσις θανάτου μεγάλη ἐν τῇ πόλει

And the hand of the LORD was heavy upon Ashdod, and he brought it upon them, and tumors broke out on them, on their ships; and in the midst of its territory mice sprang up, and there was a great deathly confusion in the city.

Intensification of the plague at Ashdod (main storyline)καὶ ἐβαρύνθη χεὶρ κυρίου
v. 6 reprises the heavy-hand formula of v. 3 and develops the affliction: the LORD brings it upon the Ashdodites, tumors erupt, and — in the distinctive LXX plus — mice (μύες) spring up across the land, yielding a 'great deathly confusion' (σύγχυσις θανάτου μεγάλη). The clause εἰς τὰς ναῦς ('on/into the ships') is textually difficult and variously rendered, but the overall sense is of a comprehensive, panic-inducing scourge.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβαρύνθηwas heavyAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · βαρύνωmain verb (subject: χεὶρ κυρίου)→ verbal action or stateβαρύνω: 'weigh down / make heavy'; see v. 3; the repeated 'heavy hand' formula structures the plague narrative, here intensifying it.
χεὶρhandNominativesubject→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; see v. 3.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; YHWH's hand as agent of the plague.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ἌζωτονAshdodAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ object specificationἌζωτος: 'Ashdod'; see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπήγαγενbrought uponAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπάγωmain verb (subject: the LORD)→ verbal action or stateἐπάγω: 'bring upon / lead against'; the compound ἐπ- marks hostile imposition (cf. its use of the plagues in Exod 11:1); here YHWH 'brought [the affliction] upon them', with the object left implicit and supplied by the following tumors and mice.
αὐτοῖςon themDativedative of disadvantage (those afflicted)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'on them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (those afflicted).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξέζεσενbroke out / boiled upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκζέωmain verb (the tumors erupting)→ verbal action or stateἐκζέω: lit. 'boil over / bubble up / break out'; vividly describes the eruption of the tumors (ἕδραι) on the skin; the same root (ζέω, 'boil') is used of the swarming gnats in Exod 8; here it conveys a sudden, seething outbreak.
αὐτοῖςon themDativedative of disadvantage→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'on them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of disadvantage.
εἰςon / intopreposition + accusative (extent / location of the outbreak)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (extent / location of the outbreak).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ναῦςshipsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (textually difficult: 'ships' / the region's vessels)→ object specificationναῦς: 'ship / vessel'; the phrase εἰς τὰς ναῦς ('on the ships') is text-critically obscure here (some witnesses point rather to the 'borders' or 'rears' of the people); the LXX as transmitted extends the affliction even to the coastal/maritime sphere of Philistine Ashdod, underlining its comprehensiveness.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the mice-plus)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μέσονmidstAccusativeadverbial accusative (with genitive: 'in the midst of')→ object specificationμέσος: 'middle / midst'; the phrase μέσον τῆς χώρας ('in the middle of the land') localizes the swarm of mice across the whole territory.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χώραςland / regionGenitivegenitive (with μέσον: 'midst of the land')→ relational specificationχώρα: 'land / region / country'; renders the surrounding territory of Ashdod, the field overrun by the mice.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (referring to Ashdod)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (referring to Ashdod).
ἀνεφύησανsprang upAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναφύωmain verb (subject: μύες)→ verbal action or stateἀναφύω: meaning 'sprang up'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb (subject: μύες).
μύεςmiceNominativesubject of ἀνεφύησαν→ participant prominenceμῦς (pl. μύες): 'mouse / mice'; the LXX plus naming the mice that ravaged the land; their pairing with the ἕδραι (tumors) suggests a rodent-borne pestilence (a detail many read as bubonic plague), and they reappear as golden votive images in the Philistines' guilt-offering (1 Kingdoms 6:4–5).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential, summarizing result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοthere was / came aboutAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (subject: σύγχυσις)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; here 'there came about', introducing the resulting state of panic.
σύγχυσιςconfusion / panicNominativesubject of ἐγένετο→ participant prominenceσύγχυσις: 'confusion / tumult / commotion'; from συγχέω ('pour together'); the same noun names the confusion of Babel (Gen 11:9); the phrase σύγχυσις θανάτου ('confusion of death / deathly panic') depicts a city thrown into mortal chaos by the plague.
θανάτουof deathGenitivegenitive (qualifying σύγχυσις: 'deathly confusion')→ relational specificationθάνατος: 'death'; renders מָוֶת; the genitive of quality marks the confusion as deadly — a panic accompanied by death; it may also echo the sense of 'plague' (a frequent LXX nuance of θάνατος).
μεγάληgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying σύγχυσις)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; intensifies the σύγχυσις, marking the scale of the catastrophe in the city.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (location of the panic)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; renders עִיר; the locus of the deathly confusion — Ashdod itself.
7

καὶ εἶδον οἱ ἄνδρες Ἀζώτου ὅτι οὕτως καὶ λέγουσιν ὅτι οὐ καθήσεται κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν ὅτι σκληρὰ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπὶ Δαγων θεὸν ἡμῶν

And the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, and they said, 'The ark of the God of Israel shall not remain with us, for his hand is hard upon us and upon Dagon our god.'

Recognition and pagan confession (main storyline + embedded speech)καὶ εἶδον οἱ ἄνδρες Ἀζώτου
The Ashdodites 'see that it was so' (perceive the cause of the disaster) and respond with direct speech (historic present λέγουσιν). Their confession is a pagan acknowledgment of YHWH's power: the ark cannot stay, for his hand is hard (σκληρά) upon them and even upon their own god Dagon — a remarkable admission of the God of Israel's supremacy over their deity.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶδονsaw / perceivedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ὁράωmain verb→ verbal action or stateὁράω (aor. εἶδον): 'see / perceive'; see v. 3; here of mental recognition — the men of Ashdod grasp the cause of their suffering.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρες): 'man / male / leading man'; renders אִישׁ / אַנְשֵׁי; here 'the men of Ashdod' = its (leading) citizens who draw the conclusion and speak.
Ἀζώτουof AshdodGenitivegenitive (qualifying ἄνδρες: 'men of Ashdod')→ relational specificationἌζωτος (gen. Ἀζώτου): 'Ashdod'; see v. 1; the genitive identifies the men's city.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause of εἶδον)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'that'; introduces what they perceived.
οὕτωςso / thusadverb (predicate of the elliptical clause: 'that it was so')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus / so / in this way'; the terse 'that it was so' = that things stood exactly as the plague indicated (the LORD's hand was the cause); a compressed Hebraic idiom.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λέγουσινthey sayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (historic present introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres.): the historic present λέγουσιν vivifies the citizens' decisive declaration; characteristic of LXX narrative dialogue.
ὅτι[that]conjunction (recitativum: introducing direct speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: here ὅτι recitativum, functioning like quotation marks to introduce the citizens' direct words; left untranslated in English.
οὐnotnegative particle (with καθήσεται)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: the objective negative, here in an emphatic refusal: the ark will certainly not stay.
καθήσεταιshall remain / sitFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · κάθημαιmain verb of the direct speech→ verbal action or stateκάθημαι: 'sit / remain / settle'; renders יָשַׁב; here 'the ark shall not remain/abide with us' — the citizens' resolve to be rid of it; the same root recurs in the lords' instruction that the ark be made to 'settle' (καθισάτω) in its own place (v. 11).
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of καθήσεται→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof the GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1; here in the title κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ ('ark of the God of Israel'), the pagans' own naming of the foreign deity.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'God of Israel')→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל (Israel); indeclinable in the LXX; in the Philistines' mouth 'the God of Israel' marks YHWH as the patron-deity of the enemy nation whose power they now dread.
μεθ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided before vowel)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + genitive: 'with / among'; 'with us' = remaining in their company/territory.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of μετά (1st person plural)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive object of μετά (1st person plural).
ὅτιbecauseconjunction (causal: giving the reason for the resolve)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because'; introduces the ground for expelling the ark — the hardness of YHWH's hand.
σκληρὰhard / harshNominativepredicate adjective (with implied 'is': 'his hand is hard')→ participant prominenceσκληρός: 'hard / harsh / severe'; renders קָשָׁה; the predicate of the verbless clause σκληρὰ χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ('hard is his hand'); the same root (σκληρύνω) describes Pharaoh's hardened heart in Exodus — here it is YHWH's hand that is unbearably hard against the Philistines.
χεὶρhandNominativesubject of the verbless clause→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; see v. 3; here 'his hand' = YHWH's hand, the agent of plague.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (referring to the God of Israel)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (referring to the God of Israel).
ἐφ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided before rough breathing)→ spatial or relational framingἐφ᾿: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction, elided before rough breathing).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of ἐπί.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the hostile reach)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (hostile direction).
ΔαγωνDagonaccusative object of ἐπί (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαγων: see v. 2; the Philistines themselves admit YHWH's hand strikes even their own god.
θεὸνgodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Δαγων ('Dagon our god')→ object specificationθεός: 'god'; here used of the pagan deity Dagon (lowercase 'god'); the appositive θεὸν ἡμῶν ('our god') sharpens the polemic — the Philistines confess YHWH's hand is heavy even on the god they worship.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying θεόν)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying θεόν).
8

καὶ ἀποστέλλουσιν καὶ συνάγουσιν τοὺς σατράπας τῶν ἀλλοφύλων πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ λέγουσιν τί ποιήσωμεν κιβωτῷ θεοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ Γεθθαῖοι μετελθέτω κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ μετῆλθεν κιβωτὸς τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς Γεθθα

And they sent and gathered the lords of the Philistines to themselves and said, 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' And the Gittites said, 'Let the ark of God be brought over to us.' And the ark of God was brought over to Gath.

Council of the lords and transfer to Gath (main storyline + embedded speech)καὶ ἀποστέλλουσιν καὶ συνάγουσιν
The narrative shifts to historic presents (ἀποστέλλουσιν, συνάγουσιν, λέγουσιν) for vividness as the Ashdodites convene the five Philistine lords (σατράπας). Their deliberative question (τί ποιήσωμεν, 'what shall we do?') is answered by the Gittites' proposal, and the ark is duly removed to Gath — only to carry the plague with it (v. 9).
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀποστέλλουσινthey sendPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἀποστέλλω: 'send / send out (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; here the Ashdodites send messengers to summon the Philistine lords; the historic present quickens the pace of the crisis-response.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνάγουσινthey gatherPres Act Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (historic present, coordinate)→ verbal action or stateσυνάγω: 'gather / assemble / bring together'; renders אָסַף / קָבַץ; the convening of the σατράπαι for an emergency council; the same verb recurs at v. 11.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σατράπαςlords / rulersAccusativedirect object of συνάγουσιν→ object specificationσατράπης (pl. σατράπας): 'satrap / lord / chief'; a Persian loanword the LXX uses to render סְרָנִים, the technical title of the five Philistine 'lords' (of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron); their collective deliberation is the decision-making body for the ark crisis.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive (qualifying σατράπας: 'lords of the Philistines')→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistines / foreigners'; see v. 1; the σατράπαι are the rulers of the Philistine pentapolis.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
αὐτοὺςthemselves / themAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Ashdodites who summon)→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'themselves'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (the Ashdodites who summon).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λέγουσινthey sayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (historic present introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres.): introduces the deliberative question of the assembled Philistines.
τίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσωμεν)→ participant referenceτίς, τί: interrogative 'who / what'; the neuter τί ('what?') opens the deliberative question about the ark's disposal.
ποιήσωμενshall we doAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (deliberative subjunctive)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; renders עָשָׂה; the deliberative subjunctive τί ποιήσωμεν ('what are we to do?') voices the lords' perplexity in the face of the inexplicable plague (cf. the same idiom at 1 Kgdms 6:2).
κιβωτῷwith the arkDativedative (of the object dealt with: 'do with the ark')→ sphere or referenceκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1; the dative κιβωτῷ marks the ark as that which they must 'do something about'.
θεοῦof the GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1; in the title 'ark of the God of Israel'.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: 'Israel'; see v. 7.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
λέγουσινsayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (historic present introducing the Gittites' reply)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (pres.): introduces the answering proposal of the Gittites.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεθθαῖοιGittitesNominativesubject of λέγουσιν→ participant prominenceΓεθθαῖος: 'Gittite / inhabitant of Gath'; gentilic noun from Γεθθα (Gath); declinable (nom. pl. Γεθθαῖοι); they propose receiving the ark — a decision they will regret in v. 9.
μετελθέτωlet it be brought over / let it pass overAor Act Impv 3 Sg · μετέρχομαιmain verb (third-person imperative of the proposal)→ verbal action or stateμετέρχομαι: 'go over / pass across / move to another place'; the third-person imperative μετελθέτω ('let it move over') voices the Gittites' proposal to transfer the ark to Gath; the verb is repeated in the indicative (μετῆλθεν) to record its execution.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of μετελθέτω→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (the Gittites)→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (the Gittites).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (recording the execution)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μετῆλθενwas brought over / passed overAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μετέρχομαιmain verb (executing the proposal)→ verbal action or stateμετέρχομαι (aor. μετῆλθεν): 'went over / was moved'; the indicative records that the ark was duly transferred; the intransitive 'the ark went over' personifies the ark as the active agent advancing into Gath.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of μετῆλθεν→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΓεθθαGathaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ participant identificationΓεθθα: transliteration of Hebrew גַּת (Gath), one of the five Philistine cities and later home of Goliath; indeclinable in the LXX; the second city to which the ark is moved.
9

καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ τὸ μετελθεῖν αὐτὴν καὶ γίνεται χεὶρ κυρίου ἐν τῇ πόλει τάραχος μέγας σφόδρα καὶ ἐπάταξεν τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰς ἕδρας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς οἱ Γεθθαῖοι ἕδρας

And it happened, after it had been brought over, that the hand of the LORD came upon the city, a very great panic; and he struck the men of the city from small to great, and he struck them with tumors; and the Gittites made themselves tumors.

Plague repeats at Gath (main storyline)καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ τὸ μετελθεῖν αὐτὴν
The temporal frame καὶ ἐγενήθη μετὰ τὸ μετελθεῖν αὐτήν ('after it had been brought over') ties cause to effect: the moment the ark arrives at Gath, the hand of the LORD strikes again. The shift to the present γίνεται heightens immediacy; the affliction is total (ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου, 'from small to great') and again takes the form of tumors (ἕδραι).
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit happenedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'become / happen'; the formula καὶ ἐγενήθη ('and it came to pass') renders wayyhî, framing the new development at Gath.
μετὰafterpreposition + accusative (temporal, with articular infinitive)→ spatial or relational framingμετά + accusative: 'after'; with the articular infinitive τὸ μετελθεῖν it forms a temporal clause, 'after the ark's being brought over'.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μετελθεῖνbringing over / passing overAor Act Inf · μετέρχομαιarticular infinitive (temporal: 'after the moving over')→ verbal action or stateμετέρχομαι: 'go over / pass across'; see v. 8; the articular infinitive τὸ μετελθεῖν with the subject-accusative αὐτήν means 'after it (the ark) passed over' to Gath.
αὐτὴνitAccusativesubject-accusative of the infinitive (referring to the ark)→ participant referenceαὐτὴν: meaning 'it'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as subject-accusative of the infinitive (referring to the ark).
καὶandapodosis marker (resumptive καί after the temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: here a resumptive/apodotic καί introducing the main clause after the temporal frame, a Hebraizing construction (cf. waw-apodosis).
γίνεταιcomes / arisesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (historic present, subject: χεὶρ κυρίου)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (pres. γίνεται): 'comes to be / arises'; the historic present dramatizes the instant onset of the LORD's hand against Gath, in apposition with the τάραχος ('panic') it produces.
χεὶρhandNominativesubject of γίνεται→ participant prominenceχείρ: 'hand'; see v. 3; the recurring leitmotif of the LORD's hand, now striking Gath.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationκύριος: the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the agent of the new affliction.
ἐνin / uponpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place (Gath)→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; see v. 6; here Gath, now the locus of the plague.
τάραχοςpanic / tumultNominativenominative in apposition to χεὶρ κυρίου (the effect named)→ participant prominenceτάραχος: 'disturbance / commotion / panic'; from ταράσσω ('stir up, trouble'); in apposition it characterizes the LORD's hand as bringing a 'very great panic' upon the city — the social-psychological dimension of the plague.
μέγαςgreatNominativeattributive adjective (modifying τάραχος)→ participant prominenceμέγας: 'great'; intensifies τάραχος.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying μέγας)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly / very much'; standard LXX rendering of מְאֹד; the combination μέγας σφόδρα ('very great') marks the panic as superlative.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (subject: the LORD)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike / smite'; see v. 3; the LORD strikes the men of Gath as he had struck the Ashdodites.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραςmenAccusativedirect object of ἐπάταξεν→ object specificationἀνήρ (pl. ἄνδρας): 'man'; see v. 7; here the male inhabitants of Gath struck by the plague.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive (qualifying ἄνδρας: 'men of the city')→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; see v. 6.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (start of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἀπό: the construction ἀπὸ μικροῦ ἕως μεγάλου ('from small to great') is a merism for the whole population, sparing no rank or age.
μικροῦsmallGenitivegenitive substantive (first pole of merism: 'the small/least')→ relational specificationμικρός: 'small / little / least'; renders קָטֹן; the lower pole of the merism — the youngest/lowliest.
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (end of merism)→ spatial or relational framingἕως: 'to / up to'; completes the merism.
μεγάλουgreatGenitivegenitive substantive (second pole of merism: 'the great/greatest')→ relational specificationμέγας: 'great'; renders גָּדוֹל; the upper pole of the merism; 'from small to great' = everyone without exception.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπάταξενstruckAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πατάσσωmain verb (specifying the form of the blow)→ verbal action or stateπατάσσω: 'strike'; see v. 3; repeated to specify that the blow took the form of tumors.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτοὺς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
εἰςwith / inpreposition + accusative (the affliction inflicted)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (the affliction inflicted).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἕδραςtumorsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationἕδρα: 'tumors / hemorrhoids'; see v. 3; the same signature affliction now strikes Gath.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying ἕδρας)→ relational specificationαὐτῶν: meaning 'their'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying ἕδρας).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (result/consequence)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (subject: οἱ Γεθθαῖοι)→ verbal action or stateποιέω: 'do / make'; see v. 8; the idiom ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς … ἕδρας ('they made for themselves tumors') is a Hebraizing way of saying the Gittites broke out in tumors — the plague was, as it were, their own doing in receiving the ark.
ἑαυτοῖςfor themselvesDativereflexive dative of advantage/disadvantage→ sphere or referenceἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun 'themselves'; the dative ἑαυτοῖς ('for/to themselves') gives the idiom its ironic edge — the Gittites brought the tumors upon their own bodies.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓεθθαῖοιGittitesNominativesubject of ἐποίησαν→ participant prominenceΓεθθαῖος: 'Gittite'; see v. 8; those who had requested the ark now suffer for it.
ἕδραςtumorsAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησαν→ object specificationἕδρα: 'tumors'; see v. 3; the repeated noun closes the verse on the same affliction that marks the whole chapter.
10

καὶ ἐξαποστέλλουσιν τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς Ἀσκαλῶνα καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς εἰσῆλθεν κιβωτὸς θεοῦ εἰς Ἀσκαλῶνα καὶ ἐβόησαν οἱ Ἀσκαλωνῖται λέγοντες τί ἀπεστρέψατε πρὸς ἡμᾶς τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ θανατῶσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ τὸν λαὸν ἡμῶν

And they send away the ark of God to Ascalon. And it happened, as the ark of God entered into Ascalon, that the Ascalonites cried out, saying, 'Why have you brought back the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people?'

Transfer to Ascalon and outcry (main storyline + embedded speech)καὶ ἐξαποστέλλουσιν τὴν κιβωτὸν
The ark is sent on (historic present ἐξαποστέλλουσιν) to a third city — in this Greek tradition Ἀσκαλῶνα ('Ascalon'), where the MT has Ekron. The temporal clause ὡς εἰσῆλθεν ('as it entered') triggers the immediate panic of the Ascalonites, whose outcry (ἐβόησαν … λέγοντες) accuses the bearers of bringing the ark to kill them — the plague's reputation now precedes it.
Word-by-word analysis· 36 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαποστέλλουσινthey send awayPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / send off completely'; the double-compound ἐξ-απο- intensifies the dismissal — the Philistines now want the ark gone; the same verb governs the lords' decision in v. 11.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστέλλουσιν→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ἈσκαλῶναAscalonAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of motion)→ object specificationἈσκαλών (acc. Ἀσκαλῶνα): the LXX form of Hebrew אַשְׁקְלוֹן (Ashkelon/Ascalon), one of the five Philistine cities; a declinable third-declension proper noun; notably, this Greek tradition (Codex Vaticanus) reads Ascalon here where the MT has Ekron (עֶקְרוֹן), a significant text-critical divergence.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing temporal frame)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγενήθηit happenedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (temporal-frame formula)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'happen / come to pass'; see v. 9; introduces the Ascalonites' reaction.
ὡςas / whentemporal conjunction (introducing the time-clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'as / when'; here temporal, 'as soon as the ark entered', marking the immediate coincidence of arrival and panic.
εἰσῆλθενenteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of the temporal clause→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter / go in'; see v. 3; the ark's entry into Ascalon triggers the outcry.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of εἰσῆλθεν→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (anarthrous: 'ark of God')→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1; here anarthrous (κιβωτὸς θεοῦ).
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ἈσκαλῶναAscalonAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationἈσκαλών: 'Ascalon'; see above.
καὶandapodosis marker (resumptive καί after temporal clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐβόησανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βοάωmain verb (subject: οἱ Ἀσκαλωνῖται)→ verbal action or stateβοάω: 'cry out / shout'; renders זָעַק / צָעַק; the loud outcry of alarm; the same root underlies the κραυγή ('cry') that goes up to heaven in v. 12.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἈσκαλωνῖταιAscalonitesNominativesubject of ἐβόησαν→ participant prominenceἈσκαλωνίτης: 'Ascalonite / inhabitant of Ascalon'; gentilic from Ἀσκαλών; declinable (nom. pl. Ἀσκαλωνῖται); they protest the ark's arrival in their city.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (ptc. λέγοντες): 'saying'; the redundant participle of speech (Hebraism rendering לֵאמֹר) introduces the content of the outcry.
τίwhyAccusativeinterrogative (adverbial accusative: 'why?')→ participant referenceτίς, τί: 'who / what / why'; the accusative τί here functions adverbially ('why? / for what reason?'), opening the reproachful question.
ἀπεστρέψατεhave you brought back / turnedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb of the direct question→ verbal action or stateἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / bring back / divert'; here 'why have you redirected/brought the ark over to us?'; the verb conveys the Ascalonites' indignation that the deadly object has been steered their way.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ spatial or relational framingπρὸς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἀπεστρέψατε→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof the GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: 'Israel'; see v. 7.
θανατῶσαιto killAor Act Inf · θανατόωinfinitive of purpose/result ('to kill us')→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; from θάνατος ('death'); the infinitive of purpose voices the Ascalonites' fear that the ark has been sent to bring death upon them and their people; cf. the same verb in the lords' resolve at v. 11.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of θανατῶσαι→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of θανατῶσαι.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of θανατῶσαι (coordinate with ἡμᾶς)→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; see Exodus exemplar; here the Ascalonites' own populace, whom they fear the ark will destroy.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying λαόν)→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying λαόν).
11

καὶ ἐξαποστέλλουσιν καὶ συνάγουσιν τοὺς σατράπας τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ εἶπον ἐξαποστείλατε τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ καὶ καθισάτω εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῆς καὶ οὐ μὴ θανατώσῃ ἡμᾶς καὶ τὸν λαὸν ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐγενήθη σύγχυσις θανάτου ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ πόλει βαρεῖα σφόδρα ὡς εἰσῆλθεν κιβωτὸς θεοῦ Ισραηλ ἐκεῖ

And they send and gather the lords of the Philistines and said, 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it settle in its own place, and let it not kill us and our people'; for there was a deathly confusion, very heavy, in the whole city, when the ark of the God of Israel entered there.

Final council: resolve to return the ark (main storyline + embedded speech)καὶ ἐξαποστέλλουσιν καὶ συνάγουσιν
The crisis reconvenes the lords (parallel to v. 8). Their decision is now decisive: send the ark away and let it 'settle in its own place' (καθισάτω εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῆς), so that it kill them no more (emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive). The narrator's causal clause (ὅτι ἐγενήθη σύγχυσις θανάτου … βαρεῖα σφόδρα) explains the urgency: a very heavy deathly panic had gripped the whole city.
Word-by-word analysis· 47 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξαποστέλλουσινthey sendPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (historic present)→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω: 'send off'; see v. 10; here of sending messengers to summon the lords.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνάγουσινthey gatherPres Act Indic 3 Pl · συνάγωmain verb (historic present, coordinate)→ verbal action or stateσυνάγω: 'gather / assemble'; see v. 8; the second convening of the Philistine lords, now to decide the ark's removal.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σατράπαςlordsAccusativedirect object of συνάγουσιν→ object specificationσατράπης: 'lord / chief'; see v. 8; the five Philistine rulers.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλλοφύλωνPhilistinesGenitivegenitive (qualifying σατράπας)→ relational specificationἀλλόφυλος: 'Philistines'; see v. 1.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπονthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (introducing direct speech)→ verbal action or stateλέγω (aor. εἶπον): 'said'; introduces the lords' decisive command.
ἐξαποστείλατεsend awayAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb of the direct speech (imperative)→ verbal action or stateἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away'; see v. 10; the aorist imperative ἐξαποστείλατε ('send [it] away!') is the lords' decisive order to be rid of the ark.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κιβωτὸνarkAccusativedirect object of ἐξαποστείλατε→ object specificationκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦof the GodGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: 'Israel'; see v. 7.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (sequential command)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καθισάτωlet it settle / sitAor Act Impv 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ verbal action or stateκαθίζω: 'sit / settle / set down'; renders יָשַׁב; the third-person imperative καθισάτω ('let it settle') directs the ark back to its own place — answering the citizens' earlier οὐ καθήσεται ('it shall not remain', v. 7) with a resolution to relocate it entirely.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationτόπος: 'place'; see v. 3; 'its own place' = back in Israelite territory, the resolution that leads to ch. 6.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (modifying τόπον; fem. agreeing with κιβωτός)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'its'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession (modifying τόπον; fem. agreeing with κιβωτός).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (purpose-result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή forming emphatic negation)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ: with μή it forms the emphatic double negative οὐ μή + subjunctive ('it shall by no means kill').
μὴnotnegative particle (with οὐ: emphatic negation + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή: the subjective negative; οὐ μὴ θανατώσῃ is the strongest form of denial — 'so that it may certainly not kill us'.
θανατώσῃit killAor Act Subj 3 Sg · θανατόωsubjunctive in emphatic negation (οὐ μή)→ verbal action or stateθανατόω: 'put to death / kill'; see v. 10; the subject is the ark (or the God acting through it); the lords' aim is that the ark cease its deadly effect once returned.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of θανατώσῃ→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object of θανατώσῃ.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λαὸνpeopleAccusativedirect object of θανατώσῃ (coordinate with ἡμᾶς)→ object specificationλαός: 'people'; see v. 10.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession→ relational specificationἡμῶν: meaning 'our'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive of possession.
ὅτιbecause / forconjunction (causal: narrator's explanation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the narrator's causal explanation of the lords' urgency.
ἐγενήθηthere wasAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb of the causal clause (subject: σύγχυσις)→ verbal action or stateγίνομαι (aor. pass.): 'happen / come to be'; see v. 6; 'there had come about a deathly confusion'.
σύγχυσιςconfusion / panicNominativesubject of ἐγενήθη→ participant prominenceσύγχυσις: 'confusion / panic'; see v. 6; the same deathly panic now seizes the whole city of Ascalon.
θανάτουof deathGenitivegenitive (qualifying σύγχυσις: 'deathly confusion')→ relational specificationθάνατος: 'death'; see v. 6.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location).
ὅλῃwholeDativeattributive adjective (modifying πόλει: 'the whole city')→ sphere or referenceὅλος: 'whole / entire'; renders כֹּל; stresses that no part of the city escaped the panic.
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειcityDativedative of place→ sphere or referenceπόλις: 'city'; see v. 6; here Ascalon.
βαρεῖαheavyNominativeattributive adjective (modifying σύγχυσις: 'a heavy confusion')→ participant prominenceβαρύς, -εῖα, -ύ: 'heavy / severe / grievous'; the feminine βαρεῖα agrees with σύγχυσις; cognate with the 'heavy hand' (ἐβαρύνθη) motif, it marks the panic as crushing.
σφόδραvery / exceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying βαρεῖα)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'exceedingly'; see v. 9; βαρεῖα σφόδρα = 'very heavy / utterly grievous'.
ὡςwhen / astemporal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: 'when / as'; temporal; ties the panic to the moment of the ark's entry.
εἰσῆλθενenteredAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιverb of the temporal clause→ verbal action or stateεἰσέρχομαι: 'enter'; see v. 3; the ark's entry is the trigger of the city-wide panic.
κιβωτὸςarkNominativesubject of εἰσῆλθεν→ participant prominenceκιβωτός: 'ark'; see v. 1.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of possession (anarthrous)→ relational specificationθεός: 'God'; see v. 1.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσραηλ: 'Israel'; see v. 7.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (referring to Ascalon)→ adverbial qualificationἐκεῖ: 'there'; the deictic adverb points back to the city (Ascalon) as the place the ark entered, closing the causal clause.
12

καὶ οἱ ζῶντες καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανόντες ἐπλήγησαν εἰς τὰς ἕδρας καὶ ἀνέβη ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν

And those who lived and did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Climactic summary of the plague (main storyline)καὶ οἱ ζῶντες καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανόντες
The chapter ends on a stark summary: even the survivors — those who lived and did not die — were struck with tumors, so that the suffering was universal. The final clause, ἀνέβη ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς πόλεως εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν ('the cry of the city went up to heaven'), is the climactic image: the Philistine city's anguished cry rises to heaven, an ironic inversion of Israel's own cries of distress that YHWH hears.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantivizing the participles)→ noun-phrase markingοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ζῶντεςliving / those who livedPres Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · ζάωsubstantival participle (subject: 'those who survived')→ verbal action or stateζάω: 'live / be alive'; the articular participle οἱ ζῶντες ('the living / survivors') denotes those not killed by the plague — yet even they do not escape the tumors.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (joining the two participles)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegative particle (negating the participle ἀποθανόντες)→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐ (οὐκ): negates the participle, defining the survivors as 'those who did not die'.
ἀποθανόντεςhaving diedAor Act Ptc Nom Masc Pl · ἀποθνῄσκωsubstantival participle (with οὐκ: 'those who did not die')→ verbal action or stateἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the aorist participle with οὐκ defines the second group — those who had not died — emphasizing that survival did not mean escape: they too were struck.
ἐπλήγησανwere struckAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πλήσσωmain verb (subject: οἱ ζῶντες … )→ verbal action or stateπλήσσω (aor. pass. ἐπλήγησαν): 'strike / smite'; the passive 'were struck' leaves YHWH as the implicit agent; the survivors are struck εἰς τὰς ἕδρας ('with tumors'), so the affliction reaches everyone.
εἰςwith / inpreposition + accusative (affliction inflicted)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (affliction inflicted).
τὰςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἕδραςtumorsAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ object specificationἕδρα: 'tumors / hemorrhoids'; see v. 3; the signature plague returns one final time, now reaching even the survivors.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (climactic)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέβηwent up / roseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (subject: ἡ κραυγή)→ verbal action or stateἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend / rise'; renders עָלָה; the image of a cry 'going up to heaven' (ἀνέβη … εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν) echoes the outcry of oppressed peoples that reaches God (cf. the cry of Sodom, Gen 18:21; of Israel in Egypt, Exod 2:23) — here, with bitter irony, it is the Philistine city's cry.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κραυγὴcry / outcryNominativesubject of ἀνέβη→ participant prominenceκραυγή: 'cry / outcry / shout'; renders זְעָקָה / שַׁוְעָה; the wail of the stricken city; the same word marks the 'great cry' of Egypt at the death of the firstborn (Exod 11:6; 12:30) — a deliberate echo casting the Philistines in Egypt's role.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλεωςcityGenitivegenitive (qualifying κραυγή: 'cry of the city')→ relational specificationπόλις: 'city'; see v. 6; the whole city's collective cry of anguish.
εἰςto / up topreposition + accusative (direction/goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction/goal).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οὐρανόνheavenAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (goal of the ascending cry)→ object specificationοὐρανός: 'heaven / sky'; renders שָׁמַיִם; the cry reaching 'to heaven' marks the divine sphere as the destination of the city's anguish — the LORD whose hand caused the plague is also the one before whom the cry rises, sealing the chapter's theology of YHWH's unrivaled power over the Philistines and their god.