Dagon fell facedown before the ark of the Lord, and when they set him up again, he fell a second time. His head and hands were broken off on the threshold. 1 Samuel 5:3–4
In 1 Samuel 5:3–5, the people in Ashdod repeatedly find the statue of Dagon fallen face-down in front of the ark of Yahweh. After they set it back up, it falls again the next morning, this time with its head and hands broken off on the doorway threshold, leaving only the body. This episode comes immediately after the Philistines capture the ark and bring it into Dagon’s temple at Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:1–2). The narrative then unfolds as a two-day sequence: discovery, response, and a second discovery with a worse outcome.
The passage presents a two-morning sequence in Ashdod: Dagon’s cult statue is found face-down “before the ark of Yahweh,” is set back up, and then is found fallen again with major damage (head and hands off) at the doorway threshold.
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with 1 Samuel 5:3-4, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
3When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
4When they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [lay] cut off on the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him.