A short Insight into SHMUEL 1, Chapter 5 By Rabbi Nisson Dov Miller

According to the Radak, the idol of Dagon contained two distinct parts. The top part was the image of a person. The bottom part was in the image of a fish. The source of its power, in the minds of those who worshiped it, was from the upper portion, from the head and the hands. For that reason , the Alshich tells us that verse four is relating something very specific. The verse says, “They woke up early the next morning and behold Dagon had fallen forward to the ground in front of the Ark of Hashem and the head of Dagon and the two palms of its hands were detached [lying] at the threshold. Only Dagon remained.” What does it mean that “only Dagon remained?