2tc Heb “only Dagon was left.” We should probably read the word גֵּו (gev, “back”) before Dagon, understanding it to have the sense of the similar word גְּוִיָּה (g’viyyah, “body”). This variant is supported by the following evidence: The LXX has ἡ ῥάχις (Jh rJacis, “the back” or “trunk”); the Syriac Peshitta has wegusmeh (“and the body of”); the Targum has gupyeh (“the body of”); the Vulgate has truncus (“the trunk of,” cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT). On the strength of this evidence the present translation employs the phrase “Dagon’s body.”

3tn Heb “the hand of the Lord was heavy upon.”

4tn The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

5tc The LXX and Vulgate add the following: “And mice multiplied in their land, and the terror of death was throughout the entire city.”

tn Or “tumors” (so ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “growths on their skin”; KJV “emerods”; NAB “hemorrhoids.”

6tn Heb “men.”

7tn Heb “for his hand is severe upon.”

8tn Heb “and they sent and gathered.”

9tn Heb “the hand of the Lord was against the city.”

10tn Heb “and he struck the men of the city from small and to great.”

11tn See the note on this term in v. 6. Cf. KJV “and they had emerods in their secret parts.”

12tn Heb “to me.”

13tn Heb “my.”

14tn Heb “and they sent and gathered.”

15tn Heb “me.”

16tn Heb “my.”

17tn Or “panic.”

18tn Heb “the hand of God was very heavy there.”

19tn Heb “men.”