VW-Edition Bible (2010)

1In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them. 2So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, Go, search the land. So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, Who has brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here? 4And he said to them, Thus and so has Micah done for me. He hired me, and I am his priest. 5So they said to him, Please inquire of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous. 6And the priest said to them, Go in peace. The way in which you go is before Jehovah. 7So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There was no possession of restraint putting them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians, and they had no business with anyone. 8And the spies came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, What is your report? 9So they said, Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and behold it is very good. Will you sit still? Do not be sluggish to go to enter to possess the land. 10When you go, you will come to a secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth. 11And six hundred men of the family of the Danites set out from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war. 12And they went up and encamped in Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. Behold, it is behind Kirjath Jearim.) 13And they passed on from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah. 14Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish answered and said to their brethren, Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore, consider what you should do. 15And they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man, to the house of Micah, and asked after his welfare. 16And the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, of the sons of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up, entered there, took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten image. And the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with weapons of war. 18And when these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten image, the priest said to them, What are you doing? 19And they said to him, Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel? 20So the priest's heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went among the people. 21Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods before them. 22When 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.  23And they called out to the sons of Dan. So they turned their faces and said to Micah, What ails you, that you have assembled together? 24And he said, You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, What ails you? 25And the sons of Dan said to him, Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest men of bitter souls fall upon you, and you lose your soul, with the souls of your household! 26And 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. 27And they took what Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no business with anyone. It was in the valley next to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there. 29And 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 formerly was Laish. 30And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31And they set up for themselves Micah's graven image which he had made, all the days the house of God was in Shiloh.


Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
 1   Judg 18:1 The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance.
Judg 18:3 At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged on their way.
Judg 18:7 They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope.
Judg 18:11 Six hundred men are sent to surprise it.
Judg 18:14 In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things.
Judg 18:27 They win Laish, and call it Dan.
Judg 18:30 They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood.
no king. The word mailech, which generally means a king, is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler, governor, or judge (see Gen 36:31. Deut 33:5;) and it is probable it should be so understood here, and in the parallel passages.
Judg 17:6 Judg 19:1 Judg 21:25
the tribe.
Josh 19:40 - Josh 19:48
for unto.
Judg 1:34

 2   men. Heb. sons. Zorah.
Judg 18:8 Judg 18:11 Judg 13:2 Judg 13:25 Judg 16:31 Gen 42:9 Josh 19:41
to spy.
Num 13:17 Josh 2:1 Pro 20:18 Luke 14:31
mount.
Judg 17:1 Judg 19:1 Judg 19:18 Josh 17:15 - Josh 17:18

 3   they knew. They knew by his dialect or mode of pronunciation, that he was not an Ephraimite: see the parallel texts.
Judg 12:6 Gen 27:22 Matt 26:73
and what hast.
Isa 22:16

 4   hired me.
Judg 17:10 Pro 28:21 Isa 56:11 Ezek 13:19 Hos 4:8 Hos 4:9 Mal 1:10 John 10:12 John 10:13 Acts 8:18 - Acts 8:21 Acts 20:33 1Tim 3:3 Titus 1:11 2Pet 2:3 2Pet 2:14 2Pet 2:15

 5   Ask counsel.
1Kgs 22:5 2Kgs 16:15 Isa 30:1 Ezek 21:21 Hos 4:12 Acts 8:10
of God.
Judg 18:14 Judg 17:5 Judg 17:13

 6   Go in peace.
1Kgs 22:6 1Kgs 22:12 1Kgs 22:15 Jer 23:21 Jer 23:22 Jer 23:32
before.
Deut 11:12 Ps 33:18 1Thess 3:11
the Lord. As the Levite uses the word Jehovah, and as the Danites succeeded according to the oracle delivered by him, some learned men are of opinion, that the worship established by Micah was not of an idolatrous kind.


 7   Laish.
Josh 19:47
called Leshem. how they.
Judg 18:27 Judg 18:28 Rev 18:7
magistrate. Heb. possessor, or, heir of restraint.
1Sam 3:13 1Kgs 1:6 Rom 13:3 1Pet 2:14
and had no. In the most correct copies of the LXX. this clause stands thus; [kai logos ouk en autois meta Syrias;] "and they had no transactions with Syria;" evidently reading instead of [âdâm *H120*] adam, man, [Arâm *H758*] aram, Syria; words so nearly similar that the only difference between them is in the [Ręysh,] raish, and [Dâleth,] daleth, which in both MSS. and printed books is sometimes indiscernible. Laish was situated on the frontiers of Syria.


 8   Zorah and Eshtaol.
Judg 18:2 Judg 18:11 Judg 13:2 Judg 16:31

 9   Arise.
Num 13:30 Num 14:7 - Num 14:9 Josh 2:23 Josh 2:24
are ye still.
1Kgs 22:23
be not.
Josh 18:3 1Sam 4:9 2Sam 10:12 John 6:27 Heb 6:11 Heb 6:12 2Pet 1:10 2Pet 1:11

 10   secure.
Judg 18:7 Judg 18:27
God hath.
Deut 2:29 Deut 4:1 Josh 6:16
where there.
Exod 3:8 Deut 8:7 - Deut 8:9 Deut 11:11 Deut 11:12 Ezek 20:6 1Tim 6:17

 11   appointed. Heb. girded.
Judg 18:11

 12   Kirjath-jearim. A city of Judah, on the confines of Benjamin; distant nine miles from Ćlia or Jerusalem, in going towards Diospolis or Lydda, according to Eusebius.
Josh 15:60 1Sam 7:1 1Chr 13:5 1Chr 13:6 2Chr 1:4
Mahaneh-dan.
Judg 13:25
*marg:
Judg 18:12

 13   mount Ephraim.
Judg 18:2 Judg 18:3 Judg 17:1 Judg 19:1 Josh 24:30 Josh 24:33

 14   Then.
1Sam 14:28
in these.
Judg 18:3 Judg 18:4 Judg 17:5
now therefore.
Pro 19:27 Isa 8:19 Isa 8:20

 15   saluted him. Heb. asked him of peace.
Gen 37:14 Gen 43:27 1Sam 17:22
*marg:
Judg 18:15 2Kgs 4:26 Matt 10:12 Matt 10:13 Luke 10:4 - Luke 10:6 John 14:27

 16   six hundred.
Judg 18:11

 17   five men.
Judg 18:2 Judg 18:14
the graven.
Judg 6:31 Judg 17:4 Judg 17:5 Exod 32:20 1Sam 4:11 1Sam 6:2 - 1Sam 6:9 2Kgs 19:18 2Kgs 19:19 Isa 46:1 Isa 46:2 Isa 46:7

 18   Judg 18:18

 19   lay thine. This was the token of silence. These men were evidently very ignorant; and absurdly concluded that they should, by taking Micah's gods, secure the presence and favour of the God of Israel, in their expedition and settlement. They perhaps supposed the piety of their motives, and the goodness of their end, would justify the means. But it was a base robbery of Micah, aggravated by the Levite's ingratitude, and their menaces.
Job 21:5 Job 29:9 Job 40:4 Job 40:5 Pro 30:32 Mic 7:16
a father.
Judg 17:10 2Kgs 6:21 2Kgs 8:8 2Kgs 8:9 2Kgs 13:14 Matt 23:9

 20   heart.
Judg 17:10 Pro 30:15 Isa 56:11 Ezek 13:19 Hos 4:3 Acts 20:33 Phil 3:19 2Pet 2:3 2Pet 2:15 2Pet 2:16
went. He was glad of his preferment among the Danites; and went into the crowd, that he might not be discovered by Micah or his family.


 21   and put. These men were so confident of success, that they removed their whole families, household goods, cattle, and all.
the carriage. Kevoodah, from kavad, to be heavy, denotes the luggage or baggage.
Judg 18:21

 22   Judg 18:22

 23   What aileth.
Gen 21:17 1Sam 11:5 2Sam 14:5 2Kgs 6:28 Ps 114:5 Isa 22:1
comest. Heb. art gathered together.


 24   what have.
Judg 17:13 Ps 115:8 Isa 44:18 - Isa 44:20 Jer 50:38 Jer 51:17 Ezek 23:5 Hab 2:18 Hab 2:19 Acts 19:26 Rev 17:2

 25   angry. Heb. bitter of soul.
1Sam 30:6 2Sam 17:8 Job 3:5 Job 27:2
*marg:
Judg 18:25

 26   Judg 18:26

 27   Laish.
Judg 18:7 Judg 18:10
they smote.
Deut 33:22 Josh 19:47
burnt.
Josh 11:11

 28   And there.
2Sam 14:6
*marg:
Judg 18:28 Ps 7:2 Ps 50:22 Dan 3:15 - Dan 3:17
far from. Probably the people of Laish were originally a colony of the Zidonians; who being an opulent people, and in possession of a strong city, lived in a state of security, not being afraid of their neighbours. In this the Leshemites imitated them, though they appear not to have had the same reason for their confidence; and though they might naturally expect help from their countrymen, yet as they lived at a considerable distance from Sidon, the Danites saw they could strike the blow before the news of the invasion could reach that city.
Judg 18:1 Judg 18:7 Josh 11:8 Isa 23:4 Isa 23:12
Beth-rehob.
Num 13:21
Rehob.
2Sam 10:6

 29   Dan.
Judg 20:1 Gen 14:14 Josh 19:47 2Sam 17:11 1Kgs 12:29 1Kgs 12:30 1Kgs 15:20
who was.
Gen 30:6 Gen 32:28
Laish, or Dan, was situated at the northern extremity of the land of Canaan, in a beautiful and fertile plain, at the foot of mount Lebanon, on the springs of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, four miles from Cesarea Philippi, or Paneas, now Banias, (with which some have confounded it,) towards Tyre. Burckhardt says, that the source of the river El Dhan, or Jordan, is at an hour's distance from Banias, which agrees with Eusebius.


 30   set up.
Exod 20:4 Lev 26:1 Deut 17:2 - Deut 17:7 Deut 27:15 Deut 31:16 Deut 31:29 Josh 19:40 - Josh 19:48 Ps 78:58 - Ps 78:61
God had graciously performed his promise, in putting these Danites in possession of that which fell to their lot, obliging them thereby to be faithful to him who had been so to them; they inherited the labour of the people, that they might observe his statues. Ps 105:44, Ps 105:45. But the first thing they do after they are settled is to break his laws, by setting up the graven image, attributing their success to that idol, which, if God had not been infinitely patient, would have been their ruin. Thus a prosperous idolater goes on to offend, imputing this his power unto his God. Instead of Manasseh, some would read Moses; as it is found in some MSS., in the Vulgate and in the concessions of the most intelligent Jews. But Bp. Patrick takes this to be an idle conceit of the Rabbins, and supposes this Jonathan to be of some other family of the Levites. Yet Kimchi acknowledges, that the Jews, deeply concerned for the honour of their lawgiver, to whom they thought it would be a great dishonour to have a grandson who was an idolater, suspended the letter, [Nuwn,] noon, over the word [Mosheh *H4872*"] *H4873* Moses, thus [Menashsheh *H4519*,] as it is found in the Hebrew Bibles; which, by means of the points, they have changed into Manasseh.
until.
Judg 13:1 1Sam 4:2 1Sam 4:3 1Sam 4:10 1Sam 4:11 Ps 78:60 - Ps 78:62
the land. Houbigant contends, that, instead of haaretz, "the land," we should read haaron, "the ark;" for the [Vâv,] wav, and [Nuwn,] noon final, might easily be mistaken for [Tsâdęy,] tzadday final; which is the only difference between the two words. This conjecture is the more likely, as the next verse tells us, that Micah's graven image continued at Dan "all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh;" which was till the ark was taken by the Philistines.


 31   all the time.
Judg 19:18 Judg 21:21 Josh 18:1 1Sam 1:3 1Sam 4:4 Jer 7:12