Judges 18 read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Judges 18 (WEBP)

[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.

Judges 18:14 teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Judges 18 (KJVS)

[1] In those days H3117 [there was] no king H4428 in Israel H3478: and in those days H3117 the tribe H7626 of the Danites H1839 sought H1245 (8764) them an inheritance H5159 to dwell in H3427 (8800); for unto that day H3117 [all their] inheritance H5159 had not fallen H5307 (8804) unto them among H8432 the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478.
[2] And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 sent H7971 (8799) of their family H4940 five H2568 men H582 from their coasts H7098, men H1121 of valour H2428, from Zorah H6881, and from Eshtaol H847, to spy H7270 (8763) out the land H776, and to search H2713 (8800) it; and they said H559 (8799) unto them, Go H3212 (8798), search H2713 (8798) the land H776: who when they came H935 (8799) to mount H2022 Ephraim H669, to the house H1004 of Micah H4318, they lodged H3885 (8799) there.
[3] When they [were] by the house H1004 of Micah H4318, they knew H5234 (8689) the voice H6963 of the young man H5288 the Levite H3881: and they turned in H5493 (8799) thither, and said H559 (8799) unto him, Who brought H935 (8689) thee hither H1988? and what makest H6213 (8802) thou in this [place]? and what hast thou here?
[4] And he said H559 (8799) unto them, Thus H2090 and thus H2090 dealeth H6213 (8804) Micah H4318 with me, and hath hired H7936 (8799) me, and I am his priest H3548.
[5] And they said H559 (8799) unto him, Ask counsel H7592 (8798), we pray thee, of God H430, that we may know H3045 (8799) whether our way H1870 which we go H1980 (8802) shall be prosperous H6743 (8686).
[6] And the priest H3548 said H559 (8799) unto them, Go H3212 (8798) in peace H7965: before H5227 the LORD H3068 [is] your way H1870 wherein ye go H3212 (8799).
[7] Then the five H2568 men H582 departed H3212 (8799), and came H935 (8799) to Laish H3919, and saw H7200 (8799) the people H5971 that [were] therein H7130, how they dwelt H3427 (8802) careless H983, after the manner H4941 of the Zidonians H6722, quiet H8252 (8802) and secure H982 (8802); and [there was] no magistrate H3423 (8802) H6114 in the land H776, that might put [them] to shame H3637 (8688) in [any] thing H1697; and they [were] far H7350 from the Zidonians H6722, and had no business H1697 with [any] man H120.
[8] And they came H935 (8799) unto their brethren H251 to Zorah H6881 and Eshtaol H847: and their brethren H251 said H559 (8799) unto them, What [say] ye?
[9] And they said H559 (8799), Arise H6965 (8798), that we may go up H5927 (8799) against them: for we have seen H7200 (8804) the land H776, and, behold, it [is] very H3966 good H2896: and [are] ye still H2814 (8688)? be not slothful H6101 (8735) to go H3212 (8800), [and] to enter H935 (8800) to possess H3423 (8800) the land H776.
[10] When ye go H935 (8800), ye shall come H935 (8799) unto a people H5971 secure H982 (8802), and to a large H7342 land H776: for God H430 hath given H5414 (8804) it into your hands H3027; a place H4725 where [there is] no want H4270 of any thing H1697 that [is] in the earth H776.
[11] And there went H5265 (8799) from thence of the family H4940 of the Danites H1839, out of Zorah H6881 and out of Eshtaol H847, six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 appointed H2296 (8803) with weapons H3627 of war H4421.
[12] And they went up H5927 (8799), and pitched H2583 (8799) in Kirjathjearim H7157, in Judah H3063: wherefore they called H7121 (8804) that place H4725 Mahanehdan H4265 unto this day H3117: behold, [it is] behind H310 Kirjathjearim H7157.
[13] And they passed H5674 (8799) thence unto mount H2022 Ephraim H669, and came H935 (8799) unto the house H1004 of Micah H4318.
[14] Then answered H6030 (8799) the five H2568 men H582 that went H1980 (8802) to spy out H7270 (8763) the country H776 of Laish H3919, and said H559 (8799) unto their brethren H251, Do ye know H3045 (8804) that there is H3426 in these houses H1004 an ephod H646, and teraphim H8655, and a graven image H6459, and a molten image H4541? now therefore consider H3045 (8798) what ye have to do H6213 (8799).
[15] And they turned H5493 (8799) thitherward, and came H935 (8799) to the house H1004 of the young man H5288 the Levite H3881, [even] unto the house H1004 of Micah H4318, and saluted H7592 (8799) H7965 him.
[16] And the six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 appointed H2296 (8803) with their weapons H3627 of war H4421, which [were] of the children H1121 of Dan H1835, stood H5324 (8737) by the entering H6607 of the gate H8179.
[17] And the five H2568 men H582 that went H1980 (8802) to spy out H7270 (8763) the land H776 went up H5927 (8799), [and] came in H935 (8804) thither, [and] took H3947 (8804) the graven image H6459, and the ephod H646, and the teraphim H8655, and the molten image H4541: and the priest H3548 stood H5324 (8737) in the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 with the six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 [that were] appointed H2296 (8803) with weapons H3627 of war H4421.
[18] And these went H935 (8804) into Micah’s H4318 house H1004, and fetched H3947 (8799) the carved image H6459, the ephod H646, and the teraphim H8655, and the molten image H4541. Then said H559 (8799) the priest H3548 unto them, What do H6213 (8802) ye?
[19] And they said H559 (8799) unto him, Hold thy peace H2790 (8685), lay H7760 (8798) thine hand H3027 upon thy mouth H6310, and go H3212 (8798) with us, and be to us H1961 (8800) a father H1 and a priest H3548: [is it] better H2896 for thee to be a priest H3548 unto the house H1004 of one H259 man H376, or that thou be a priest H3548 unto a tribe H7626 and a family H4940 in Israel H3478?
[20] And the priest’s H3548 heart H3820 was glad H3190 (8799), and he took H3947 (8799) the ephod H646, and the teraphim H8655, and the graven image H6459, and went in H935 (8799) the midst H7130 of the people H5971.
[21] So they turned H6437 (8799) and departed H3212 (8799), and put H7760 (8799) the little ones H2945 and the cattle H4735 and the carriage H3520 before H6440 them.
[22] [And] when they were a good way H7368 (8689) from the house H1004 of Micah H4318, the men H582 that [were] in the houses H1004 near to Micah’s H4318 house H1004 were gathered together H2199 (8738), and overtook H1692 (8686) the children H1121 of Dan H1835.
[23] And they cried H7121 (8799) unto the children H1121 of Dan H1835. And they turned H5437 (8686) their faces H6440, and said H559 (8799) unto Micah H4318, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company H2199 (8738)?
[24] And he said H559 (8799), Ye have taken away H3947 (8804) my gods H430 which I made H6213 (8804), and the priest H3548, and ye are gone away H3212 (8799): and what have I more? and what [is] this [that] ye say H559 (8799) unto me, What aileth thee?
[25] And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 said H559 (8799) unto him, Let not thy voice H6963 be heard H8085 (8686) among us, lest angry H4751 H5315 fellows H582 run H6293 (8799) upon thee, and thou lose H622 (8804) thy life H5315, with the lives H5315 of thy household H1004.
[26] And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 went H3212 (8799) their way H1870: and when Micah H4318 saw H7200 (8799) that they [were] too strong H2389 for him, he turned H6437 (8799) and went back H7725 (8799) unto his house H1004.
[27] And they took H3947 (8804) [the things] which Micah H4318 had made H6213 (8804), and the priest H3548 which he had, and came H935 (8799) unto Laish H3919, unto a people H5971 [that were] at quiet H8252 (8802) and secure H982 (8802): and they smote H5221 (8686) them with the edge H6310 of the sword H2719, and burnt H8313 (8804) the city H5892 with fire H784.
[28] And [there was] no deliverer H5337 (8688), because it [was] far H7350 from Zidon H6721, and they had no business H1697 with [any] man H120; and it was in the valley H6010 that [lieth] by Bethrehob H1050. And they built H1129 (8799) a city H5892, and dwelt H3427 (8799) therein.
[29] And they called H7121 (8799) the name H8034 of the city H5892 Dan H1835, after the name H8034 of Dan H1835 their father H1, who was born H3205 (8795) unto Israel H3478: howbeit H199 the name H8034 of the city H5892 [was] Laish H3919 at the first H7223.
[30] And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 set up H6965 (8686) the graven image H6459: and Jonathan H3083, the son H1121 of Gershom H1647, the son H1121 of Manasseh H4519, he and his sons H1121 were priests H3548 to the tribe H7626 of Dan H1839 until the day H3117 of the captivity H1540 (8800) of the land H776.
[31] And they set them up H7760 (8799) Micah’s H4318 graven image H6459, which he made H6213 (8804), all the time H3117 that the house H1004 of God H430 was in Shiloh H7887.

Young’s Literal Translation

Judges 18 (YLT)

[1] In those days there is no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danite is seeking for itself an inheritance to inhabit, for that hath not fallen to it unto that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel by inheritance.
[2] And the sons of Dan send, out of their family, five men of them, men, sons of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to traverse the land, and to search it, and they say unto them, ‘Go, search the land;’ and they come into the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodge there.
[3] They are with the household of Micah, and they have discerned the voice of the young man, the Levite, and turn aside there, and say to him, ‘Who hath brought thee hither? and what art thou doing in this place? and what to thee here?’
[4] And he saith unto them, ‘Thus and thus hath Micah done to me; and he hireth me, and I am to him for a priest.’
[5] And they say to him, ‘Ask, we pray thee, at God, and we know whether our way is prosperous on which we are going.’
[6] And the priest saith to them, ‘Go in peace; over-against Jehovah is your way in which ye go.’
[7] And the five men go, and come in to Laish, and see the people which is in its midst, dwelling confidently, according to the custom of Zidonians, quiet and confident; and there is none putting to shame in the land in any thing, possessing restraint, and they are far off from the Zidonians, and have no word with any man.
[8] And they come in unto their brethren, at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren say to them, ‘What-ye?’
[9] And they say, ‘Rise, and we go up against them, for we have seen the land, and lo, very good; and ye are keeping silent! be not slothful to go-to enter to possess the land.
[10] When ye go, ye come in unto a people confident, and the land is large on both hands, for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything which is in the land.’
[11] And there journey thence, of the family of the Danite, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.
[12] And they go up and encamp in Kirjath-Jearim, in Judah, therefore they have called that place, ‘Camp of Dan,’ till this day; lo, behind Kirjath-Jearim.
[13] And they pass over thence to the hill-country of Ephraim, and come in unto the house of Micah.
[14] And the five men, those going to traverse the land of Laish, answer and say unto their brethren, ‘Have ye known that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and graven image, and molten image? and now, know what ye do.’
[15] And they turn aside thither, and come in unto the house of the young man the Levite, the house of Micah, and ask of him of welfare,-
[16] (and the six hundred men girded with their weapons of war, who are of the sons of Dan, are standing at the opening of the gate),-
[17] yea, the five men, those going to traverse the land, go up-they have come in thither-they have taken the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image-and the priest is standing at the opening of the gate, and the six hundred men who are girded with weapons of war-
[18] yea, these have entered the house of Micah, and take the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest saith unto them, ‘What are ye doing?’
[19] and they say to him, ‘Keep silent, lay thy hand on thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us for a father and for a priest: is it better thy being a priest to the house of one man, or thy being priest to a tribe and to a family in Israel?’
[20] And the heart of the priest is glad, and he taketh the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and goeth into the midst of the people,
[21] and they turn and go, and put the infants, and the cattle, and the baggage, before them.
[22] They have been far off from the house of Micah-and the men who are in the houses which are near the house of Micah have been called together, and overtake the sons of Dan,
[23] and call unto the sons of Dan, and they turn round their faces, and say to Micah, ‘What-to thee that thou hast been called together?’
[24] And he saith, ‘My gods which I made ye have taken, and the priest, and ye go; and what to me more? and what is this ye say unto me, What-to thee!’
[25] And the sons of Dan say unto him, ‘Let not thy voice be heard with us, lest men bitter in soul fall upon you, and thou hast gathered thy life, and the life of thy household;’
[26] and the sons of Dan go on their way, and Micah seeth that they are stronger than he, and turneth, and goeth back unto his house.
[27] And they have taken that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and come in against Laish, against a people quiet and confident, and smite them by the mouth of the sword, and the city have burnt with fire,
[28] and there is no deliverer, for it is far off from Zidon, and they have no word with any man, and it is in the valley which is by Beth-Rehob; and they build the city, and dwell in it,
[29] and call the name of the city Dan, by the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; and yet Laish is the name of the city at the first.
[30] And the sons of Dan raise up for themselves the graven image, and Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, he and his sons have been priests to the tribe of the Danite, till the day of the removal of the people of the land.
[31] And they appoint for them the graven image of Micah, which he had made, all the days of the house of God being in Shiloh.