Judges 18 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] In those days there was no king in Israel. In those days the tribe of the Danites sought an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day, their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. ^[2] The children of Dan sent five men of their family from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land!”They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. ^[3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; so they went over there and said to him, “Who brought you here? What do you do in this place? What do you have here?” ^[4] He said to them, “Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” ^[5] They said to him, “Please ask counsel of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.” ^[6] The priest said to them, “Go in peace. Your way in which you go is before Yahweh.” ^[7] Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in safety, in the way of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was no one in the land possessing authority, that might put them to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone else. ^[8] They came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol; and their brothers asked them, “What do you say?” ^[9] They said, “Arise, and let’s go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. Do you stand still? Don’t be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land. ^[10] When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people, and the land is large; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.” ^[11] The family of the Danites set out from Zorah and Eshtaol with six hundred men armed with weapons of war. ^[12] They went up and encamped in Kiriath Jearim in Judah. Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. Behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim. ^[13] They passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah. ^[14] Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brothers, “Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim,^ⓘ and a carved image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you have to do.” ^[15] They went over there and came to the house of the young Levite man, even to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing. ^[16] The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. ^[17] The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. ^[18] When these went into Micah’s house, and took the engraved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” ^[19] They said to him, “Hold your peace, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?” ^[20] The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, the teraphim, and the engraved image, and went with the people. ^[21] So they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods before them. ^[22] When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan. ^[23] As they called to the children of Dan, they turned their faces, and said to Micah, “What ails you, that you come with such a company?” ^[24] He said, “You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and have gone away! What more do I have? How can you ask me, ‘What ails you?’ ” ^[25] The children of Dan said to him, “Don’t let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household.” ^[26] The children of Dan went their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house. ^[27] They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword; then they burned the city with fire. ^[28] There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone else; and it was in the valley that lies by Beth Rehob. They built the city and lived in it. ^[29] They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; however the name of the city used to be Laish. ^[30] The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. ^[31] So they set up for themselves Micah’s engraved image which he made, and it remained all the time that God’s house was in Shiloh.

Footnotes

teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.

King James Version

^[1] In those daysH3117 [there was] no kingH4428 in Israel:H3478 and in those daysH3117 the tribeH7626 of the DanitesH1839 soughtH1245(PielPtc) them an inheritanceH5159 to dwell in;H3427(QalInf) for unto that dayH3117 [all their] inheritanceH5159 had not fallenH5307(QalPerf) unto them amongH8432 the tribesH7626 of Israel.H3478 ^[2] And the childrenH1121 of DanH1835 sentH7971(QalImpf) of their familyH4940 fiveH2568 menH582 from their coasts,H7098 menH1121 of valour,H2428 from Zorah,H6881 and from Eshtaol,H847 to spyH7270(PielInf) out the land,H776 and to searchH2713(QalInf) it; and they saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, Go,H3212(QalImpv) searchH2713(QalImpv) the land:H776 who when they cameH935(QalImpf) to mountH2022 Ephraim,H669 to the houseH1004 of Micah,H4318 they lodgedH3885(QalImpf) there. ^[3] When they [were] by the houseH1004 of Micah,H4318 they knewH5234(HiphPerf) the voiceH6963 of the young manH5288 the Levite:H3881 and they turned inH5493(QalImpf) thither, and saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Who broughtH935(HiphPerf) thee hither?H1988 and what makestH6213(QalActPtc) thou in this [place]? and what hast thou here? ^[4] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, ThusH2090 and thusH2090 dealethH6213(QalPerf) MicahH4318 with me, and hath hiredH7936(QalImpf) me, and I am his priest.H3548 ^[5] And they saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Ask counsel,H7592(QalImpv) we pray thee, of God,H430 that we may knowH3045(QalImpf) whether our wayH1870 which we goH1980(QalActPtc) shall be prosperous.H6743(HiphImpf) ^[6] And the priestH3548 saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, GoH3212(QalImpv) in peace:H7965 beforeH5227 the LordH3068 [is] your wayH1870 wherein ye go.H3212(QalImpf) ^[7] Then the fiveH2568 menH582 departed,H3212(QalImpf) and cameH935(QalImpf) to Laish,H3919 and sawH7200(QalImpf) the peopleH5971 that [were] therein,H7130 how they dweltH3427(QalActPtc) careless,H983 after the mannerH4941 of the Zidonians,H6722 quietH8252(QalActPtc) and secure;H982(QalActPtc) and [there was] no magistrateH3423(QalActPtc) in the land,H776 that might put [them] to shameH3637(HiphPtc) in [any] thing;H1697 and they [were] farH7350 from the Zidonians,H6722 and had no businessH1697 with [any] man.H120 ^[8] And they cameH935(QalImpf) unto their brethrenH251 to ZorahH6881 and Eshtaol:H847 and their brethrenH251 saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, What [say] ye? ^[9] And they said,H559(QalImpf) Arise,H6965(QalImpv) that we may go upH5927(QalImpf) against them: for we have seenH7200(QalPerf) the land,H776 and, behold, it [is] veryH3966 good:H2896 and [are] ye still?H2814(HiphPtc) be not slothfulH6101(NiphImpf) to go,H3212(QalInf) [and] to enterH935(QalInf) to possessH3423(QalInf) the land.H776 ^[10] When ye go,H935(QalInf) ye shall comeH935(QalImpf) unto a peopleH5971 secure,H982(QalActPtc) and to a largeH7342 land:H776 for GodH430 hath givenH5414(QalPerf) it into your hands;H3027 a placeH4725 where [there is] no wantH4270 of any thingH1697 that [is] in the earth.H776 ^[11] And there wentH5265(QalImpf) from thence of the familyH4940 of the Danites,H1839 out of ZorahH6881 and out of Eshtaol,H847 sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376 appointedH2296(QalPasPtc) with weaponsH3627 of war.H4421 ^[12] And they went up,H5927(QalImpf) and pitchedH2583(QalImpf) in Kirjathjearim,H7157 in Judah:H3063 wherefore they calledH7121(QalPerf) that placeH4725 MahanehdanH4265 unto this day:H3117 behold, [it is] behindH310 Kirjathjearim.H7157 ^[13] And they passedH5674(QalImpf) thence unto mountH2022 Ephraim,H669 and cameH935(QalImpf) unto the houseH1004 of Micah.H4318 ^[14] Then answeredH6030(QalImpf) the fiveH2568 menH582 that wentH1980(QalActPtc) to spy outH7270(PielInf) the countryH776 of Laish,H3919 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto their brethren,H251 Do ye knowH3045(QalPerf) that there isH3426 in these housesH1004 an ephod,H646 and teraphim,H8655 and a graven image,H6459 and a molten image?H4541 now therefore considerH3045(QalImpv) what ye have to do.H6213(QalImpf) ^[15] And they turnedH5493(QalImpf) thitherward, and cameH935(QalImpf) to the houseH1004 of the young manH5288 the Levite,H3881 [even] unto the houseH1004 of Micah,H4318 and salutedH7592(QalImpf) him. ^[16] And the sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376 appointedH2296(QalPasPtc) with their weaponsH3627 of war,H4421 which [were] of the childrenH1121 of Dan,H1835 stoodH5324(NiphPtc) by the enteringH6607 of the gate.H8179 ^[17] And the fiveH2568 menH582 that wentH1980(QalActPtc) to spy outH7270(PielInf) the landH776 went up,H5927(QalImpf) [and] came inH935(QalPerf) thither, [and] tookH3947(QalPerf) the graven image,H6459 and the ephod,H646 and the teraphim,H8655 and the molten image:H4541 and the priestH3548 stoodH5324(NiphPtc) in the enteringH6607 of the gateH8179 with the sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376 [that were] appointedH2296(QalPasPtc) with weaponsH3627 of war.H4421 ^[18] And these wentH935(QalPerf) into Micah’sH4318 house,H1004 and fetchedH3947(QalImpf) the carved image,H6459 the ephod,H646 and the teraphim,H8655 and the molten image.H4541 Then saidH559(QalImpf) the priestH3548 unto them, What doH6213(QalActPtc) ye? ^[19] And they saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Hold thy peace,H2790(HiphImpv) layH7760(QalImpv) thine handH3027 upon thy mouth,H6310 and goH3212(QalImpv) with us, and be to usH1961(QalInf) a fatherH1 and a priest:H3548 [is it] betterH2896 for thee to be a priestH3548 unto the houseH1004 of oneH259 man,H376 or that thou be a priestH3548 unto a tribeH7626 and a familyH4940 in Israel?H3478 ^[20] And the priest’sH3548 heartH3820 was glad,H3190(QalImpf) and he tookH3947(QalImpf) the ephod,H646 and the teraphim,H8655 and the graven image,H6459 and went inH935(QalImpf) the midstH7130 of the people.H5971 ^[21] So they turnedH6437(QalImpf) and departed,H3212(QalImpf) and putH7760(QalImpf) the little onesH2945 and the cattleH4735 and the carriageH3520 beforeH6440 them. ^[22] [And] when they were a good wayH7368(HiphPerf) from the houseH1004 of Micah,H4318 the menH582 that [were] in the housesH1004 near to Micah’sH4318 houseH1004 were gathered together,H2199(NiphPerf) and overtookH1692(HiphImpf) the childrenH1121 of Dan.H1835 ^[23] And they criedH7121(QalImpf) unto the childrenH1121 of Dan.H1835 And they turnedH5437(HiphImpf) their faces,H6440 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto Micah,H4318 What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?H2199(NiphPerf) ^[24] And he said,H559(QalImpf) Ye have taken awayH3947(QalPerf) my godsH430 which I made,H6213(QalPerf) and the priest,H3548 and ye are gone away:H3212(QalImpf) and what have I more? and what [is] this [that] ye sayH559(QalImpf) unto me, What aileth thee? ^[25] And the childrenH1121 of DanH1835 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Let not thy voiceH6963 be heardH8085(HiphImpf) among us, lest angryH4751 fellowsH582 runH6293(QalImpf) upon thee, and thou loseH622(QalPerf) thy life,H5315 with the livesH5315 of thy household.H1004 ^[26] And the childrenH1121 of DanH1835 wentH3212(QalImpf) their way:H1870 and when MicahH4318 sawH7200(QalImpf) that they [were] too strongH2389 for him, he turnedH6437(QalImpf) and went backH7725(QalImpf) unto his house.H1004 ^[27] And they tookH3947(QalPerf) [the things] which MicahH4318 had made,H6213(QalPerf) and the priestH3548 which he had, and cameH935(QalImpf) unto Laish,H3919 unto a peopleH5971 [that were] at quietH8252(QalActPtc) and secure:H982(QalActPtc) and they smoteH5221(HiphImpf) them with the edgeH6310 of the sword,H2719 and burntH8313(QalPerf) the cityH5892 with fire.H784 ^[28] And [there was] no deliverer,H5337(HiphPtc) because it [was] farH7350 from Zidon,H6721 and they had no businessH1697 with [any] man;H120 and it was in the valleyH6010 that [lieth] by Bethrehob.H1050 And they builtH1129(QalImpf) a city,H5892 and dweltH3427(QalImpf) therein. ^[29] And they calledH7121(QalImpf) the nameH8034 of the cityH5892 Dan,H1835 after the nameH8034 of DanH1835 their father,H1 who was bornH3205(PualPerf) unto Israel:H3478 howbeitH199 the nameH8034 of the cityH5892 [was] LaishH3919 at the first.H7223 ^[30] And the childrenH1121 of DanH1835 set upH6965(HiphImpf) the graven image:H6459 and Jonathan,H3083 the sonH1121 of Gershom,H1647 the sonH1121 of Manasseh,H4519 he and his sonsH1121 were priestsH3548 to the tribeH7626 of DanH1839 until the dayH3117 of the captivityH1540(QalInf) of the land.H776 ^[31] And they set them upH7760(QalImpf) Micah’sH4318 graven image,H6459 which he made,H6213(QalPerf) all the timeH3117 that the houseH1004 of GodH430 was in Shiloh.H7887

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