Danites Take the Levite and the Idol

Judges 18

1 j In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days k the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. 2 So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, l from Zorah and from Eshtaol, m to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came n to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3 When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?" 4 And he said to them, "This is how Micah dealt with me: o he has hired me, and I have become his priest." 5 And they said to him, p "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed." 6 And the priest said to them, q "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord."

7 Then the five men departed and came to r Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, s quiet and unsuspecting, lacking 1 nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how t they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. 8 And when they came to their brothers at u Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, "What do you report?" 9 They said, v "Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. w And will you do nothing? x Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land. 10 As soon as you go, you will come to an y unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, z a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."

11 So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, a armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, 12 and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called b Mahaneh-dan 2 to this day; behold, it is west of c Kiriath-jearim. 13 And they passed on from there to d the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.

14 Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that e in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do." 15 And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and f asked him about his welfare. 16 Now the 600 men of the Danites, g armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 And h the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took i the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war. 18 And when these went into Micah's house and took i the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" 19 And they said to him, "Keep quiet; j put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us k a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?" 20 And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.

21 So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and l the goods in front of them. 22 When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. 23 And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, "What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?" 24 And he said, m "You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, 'What is the matter with you?'" 25 And the people of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household." 26 Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

27 But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people n quiet and unsuspecting, and o struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer because it was p far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to q Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it. 29 And they named the city r Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but s the name of the city was Laish at the first. 30 And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, t son of Moses, 3 u and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day v of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, w as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

  1. Cross References
    Judges 17:6
    In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
    Judges 21:25
    In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
  2. Cross References
    Judges 1:34
    The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain.
    Joshua 19:47 - 48
    When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
  3. Cross References
    Judges 18:8
    And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, "What do you report?
    Judges 18:11
    So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
    Judges 13:25
    And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 13:17
    Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country.
    Joshua 2:1
    And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
  5. Cross References
    Judges 17:1
    There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
    Judges 17:8
    And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 17:10
    And Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living." And the Levite went in.
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 27:21
    And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:17
    Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.
    1 Kings 22:6
    Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.
  9. Cross References
    Joshua 19:47
    When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
  10. Cross References
    Judges 18:10
    As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.
    Judges 18:27
    But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
  11. Cross References
    Judges 18:28
    And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.
  12. Cross References
    Judges 18:2
    So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
    Judges 18:11
    So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
  13. Cross References
    Numbers 13:20
    And whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land." Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.
    Joshua 2:23 - 24
    Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.
  14. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:3
    And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?
  15. Cross References
    Joshua 18:3
    So Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?
  16. Cross References
    Judges 18:7
    Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
    Judges 18:27
    But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
  17. Cross References
    Judges 19:19
    We have straw and feed for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and your female servant and the young man with your servants. There is no lack of anything.
    Deuteronomy 8:9
    A land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.
  18. Cross References
    Judges 18:16
    Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate.
  19. Cross References
    Judges 13:25
    And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
  20. Cross References
    Joshua 15:60
    Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.
  21. Cross References
    Judges 18:2
    So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
  22. Cross References
    Judges 17:4 - 5
    So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 43:27
    And he inquired about their welfare and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?
  24. Cross References
    Judges 18:11
    So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
  25. Cross References
    Judges 18:2
    So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
    Judges 18:14
    Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.
  26. Cross References
    Judges 18:14
    Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.
    Judges 17:4 - 5
    So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah.
  27. Cross References
    Judges 18:17
    And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.
  28. Cross References
    Job 21:5
    Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.
    Job 29:9
    The princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth.
    Job 40:4
    Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
    Proverbs 30:32
    If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
    Micah 7:16
    The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hands on their mouths; their ears shall be deaf.
  29. Cross References
    Judges 17:10
    And Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living." And the Levite went in.
  30. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:22
    And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.
    Isaiah 10:28
    He has come to Aiath; he has passed through Migron; at Michmash he stores his baggage.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 31:30
    And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?
  32. Cross References
    Judges 18:7
    Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
    Judges 18:10
    As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.
  33. Cross References
    Joshua 19:47
    When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor.
  34. Cross References
    Judges 18:7
    Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
  35. Cross References
    2 Samuel 10:6
    When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men.
    Numbers 13:21
    So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath.
    Joshua 19:28
    Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Sidon the Great.
  36. Cross References
    Judges 20:1
    Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah.
    Genesis 14:14
    When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
    1 Kings 12:29 - 30
    And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
    1 Kings 15:20
    And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
  37. Cross References
    Judges 18:7
    Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
  38. Cross References
    Exodus 2:22
    She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.
    Exodus 18:3
    Along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom ( for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land").
  39. Cross References
    Judges 17:12
    And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
  40. Cross References
    Judges 13:1
    And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
    1 Samuel 4:2 - 3
    The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.
    1 Samuel 4:10 - 11
    So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.
    Psalms 78:60 - 64
    He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind.
  41. Cross References
    Joshua 18:1
    Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.
    1 Samuel 1:3
    Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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