CHAPTER 18
In those
days
there was no
king
in Israel,
and the tribe
of the Danites
was looking for
territory
to occupy.
For
up to
that
time
they had not
come into
an inheritance
among
the tribes
of Israel.
So the Danites
sent out
five
men
from their clans,
valiant warriors
from Zorah
and Eshtaol,
to spy out
the land
and explore it.
“Go
and explore
the land,”
they told them.
The men entered
the hill country
of Ephraim
and came to
the house
of Micah,
where they spent the night.
And while they
were near
Micah’s
house,
they
recognized
the voice
of the young
Levite;
so they went over
and asked
him,
“Who
brought
you here?
What
are you
doing
in this place?
Why
are you
here?"
Then they said to him,
“Please
inquire
of God
to determine
whether we
will have a successful
journey.”
So the five
men
departed
and came
to Laish,
where they saw
that the people
were living
securely,
like
the Sidonians,
tranquil
and unsuspecting.
There was nothing
lacking
in the land
and no oppressive
ruler.
And they
were far away
from the Sidonians
and had no
alliance
with
anyone.
They answered,
“Come on,
let us go up
against them,
for
we have seen
the land,
and it is very
good.
Why would you fail to act?
Do not
hesitate
to go there
and take possession of
the land!
When you enter,
you will come
to
an unsuspecting
people
and a spacious
land,
for
God
has given it
into your hands.
It is a place
where
nothing
on earth
is lacking.”
They went up
and camped
at Kiriath-jearim
in Judah.
That is why
the
place
west
of Kiriath-jearim
is called
Mahaneh-dan
to
this
day.
Then the five
men
who had gone
to spy out
the land
of Laish
said
to
their brothers,
“Did you know
that
one of these
houses
has
an ephod,
household gods,
a graven image,
and a molten idol?
Now
think about
what
you should do."
So they turned
aside there
and went
to
the home
of the young
Levite,
the house
of Micah,
and greeted
him.
while the five
men
who had gone
to scout
out the land
went inside
and took
the graven image,
the ephod,
the household idols,
and
the molten idol,
while the priest
stood
at the entrance
of the gate
with the six
hundred
armed
men.
When they
entered
Micah’s
house
and took
the graven image,
the ephod,
the household idols,
and
the molten idol,
the priest
said
to them,
“What
are you
doing?”
“Be quiet,”
they told him.
“Put
your hand
over
your mouth
and come
with us
and be
a father
and a priest
to us.
Is it better
for you to be
a priest
for the house
of one
person
or
a priest
for a tribe
and family
in Israel?”
So the priest
was glad
and took
the ephod,
the household idols,
and
the graven image,
and went
with
the people.
Putting
their small children,
their livestock,
and their possessions
in front of them,
they turned
and departed.
After they
were some distance
from Micah’s
house,
the men
in the houses
near
Micah's
house
mobilized
and overtook
the Danites.
When they called out
after them,
the Danites
turned
to face them
and said
to Micah,
“What is the matter
with you that
you have called out such a company?”
He replied,
“You took
the gods
I had made,
and my priest,
and went away.
What else
do I have?
How
can you say
to me,
‘What is the matter with you?’”
The Danites
said
to him,
“Do not
raise
your voice
against us,
or
angry
men
will attack you,
and you and your family
will lose
your lives.”
So the Danites
went
on their way,
and Micah turned
to go back
home,
because he
saw
that
they
were too strong
for him.
After they
had taken
Micah's
idols
and his priest,
they went
to
Laish,
to
a tranquil
and unsuspecting
people,
and they struck
them
with their swords
and burned down
the city.
There was no one
to deliver them,
because
the city was
far
from Sidon
and had no
alliance
with
anyone;
it
was in a valley
near
Beth-rehob.
And the Danites rebuilt
the city
and lived
there.
They named
it
Dan,
after
their forefather
Dan,
who
was born
to Israel—
though
the city
was formerly
named
Laish.
The Danites
set up
idols
for themselves,
and Jonathan
son of
Gershom,
the son
of Moses,
and his sons
were
priests
for the tribe
of Dan
until
the day
of the captivity
of the land.
So they set up
for themselves
Micah's
graven image,
and it was there the whole
time
the house
of God
was
in Shiloh.