Judges Chapter 18
Idolatry Among the Danites
1 In those days there wasn’t any king in Israel. The tribe of Dan was looking for a territory to live in, because no inheritance in Israel had fallen to them yet. 2 They sent out from Zorah and Eshtaol five capable men from their tribe to spy out the land and explore it. They happened to come to Micah’s house and lodged there. 3 While they were at his house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite and turned aside to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing here?”
4 “Micah has done such and such with me and hired me to be his priest.”
5 “Ask God so we can know if our journey will be successful.”
6 “Goodbye. The LORD is watching the journey you’re on.” Jud 18:1-6
7 The five men left and came to Laish and saw how the people lived in security, like the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing and possessing wealth. They saw how far they were from Sidon and had no dealings with anybody. 8 When they came to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, they asked them for their report. 9 They said,
“Let’s go up against them. The land is fertile. Aren’t you going to do anything? Don’t hesitate to take the land. 10 When you go, you’ll come to an unsuspecting people. The land is extensive. Yes, God will give you the place that doesn’t lack anything.”
11 Then 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12 They went up and “camped” at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That’s why the place is still called Mahaneh-dan—west of Kiriath-jearim. 13 They went on from there to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim. Jud 18:7-13
14 The five men that had spied out the country of Laish told their kin, “Did you know there are household idols, an ephod, a carved image, and a molten image in these houses? Think what you can do.” 15 They turned aside to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s home and asked him how he was doing. 16 The 600 armed Danites stood by the gate entrance, 17 and the five men went in and took the carved image, ephod, household idols, and molten image, while the priest stood by the gate entrance with the 600 men. 18 When they went into Micah’s house and took those things, the priest asked, “What are you doing?”
19 They told him, “Keep your voice down, cover your mouth, and come with us. Be a father and priest for us. Is it better to be a priest for one man’s house, or for a family and tribe in Israel?”
20 The priest was happy. He took the ephod, household idols, and carved image and went in among the people.
21 So they turned around and left, putting their little ones, livestock, and goods in front of them. 22 When they were a good way from Micah’s house, the men in the houses close by were called out and overtook the Danites. 23 They shouted at them. They turned around and said to Micah, “What ails you that you’ve come with such a crowd?”
24 He said, “You take away the gods I made, and the priest, and what do I have left? What do you mean, ‘What ails you?’”
25 The Danites said, “Don’t raise your voice at us or angry fellows might fall on you. You’ll lose your life and your family’s lives.”
26 The Danites left. Micah saw that they were too strong for him and went home. Jud 18:14-26
27 The Danites took what Micah had made and his priest, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the sword and burned the town. 28 There wasn’t any deliverer because it was too far from Sidon, and they didn’t have dealings with anybody. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the town and lived in it. 29 They renamed it Dan after their ancestor, Israel’s son. 30 They set up the carved image, and Jonathan son of Gershom son of Moses and his descendants were priests for the tribe of Dan till the time of the captivity. 31 They set up the carved image Micah made for as long as God’s house was at Shiloh.