Judg 18 | EngLXX | STEP | In those days there was no king in Israel; and in those days the tribe of Dan sought foritself an inheritance to inhabit, because no inheritance had fallen to it until that day in the midstof the tribes of the children of Israel.

Judges 18

1 In those days there was no king in Israel; and in those days the tribe of Dan sought foritself an inheritance to inhabit, because no inheritance had fallen to it until that day in the midstof the tribes of the children of Israel. 2 And the sons of Dan sent from their families five men of valour, from Saraa and from Esthaol,to spy out the land and to search it; and they said to them, Go and search out the land. And they cameas far as the mount of Ephraim to the house of Michaias and they lodged there, 3 in the house of Michaias, and they recognized the voice of the young man the Levite, andturned in there; and said to him, Who brought you in hither? and what do you in this place? and what haveyou here? 4 And he said to them, Thus and thus did Michaias to me, and he hired me, and I became hispriest. 5 And they said to him, Enquire now of God, and we shall know whether our way will prosper,on which we are going. 6 And the priest said to them, Go in peace; your way in which you⌃ go,is before the Lord. 7 And the five men went on, and came to Laisa; and they saw the people in the midst of itdwelling securely, at ease asis the manner of the Sidonians, and there is no one perverting or shaming a matter in the land,no heir extorting treasures; and they are far from the Sidonians, and they have no intercourse with anyone. 8 And the five men came to their brethren to Saraa and Esthaol, and said to their brethren,Why sit you⌃ hereidle? 9 And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and, behold,it is very good, yet you⌃ are still: delay not to go, an to enter in to possess the land. 10 And whenever you⌃ shall go, you⌃ shall come in upon a people secure, and the landis extensive, for God has given it into your hand; a place where there is no lack of anythingthat the earth affords. 11 And there departed thence of the families of Dan, from Saraa and from Esthaol, six hundredmen, girded with weapons of war. 12 And they went up, and encamped in Cariathiarim in Juda; therefore it was called in thatplace the camp of Dan, until this day: behold,it is behind Cariathiarim. 13 And they went on thence to the mount of Ephraim, and came to the house of Michaias. 14 And the five men who went to spy out the land of Laisa answered, and said to their brethren,You⌃ know that there is in this place an ephod, and theraphin, and a graven and a molten image; and nowconsider what you⌃ shall do. 15 And they turned aside there, and went into the house of the young man, the Levite,even into the house of Michaias, and asked him how he was. 16 And the six hundred men of the sons of Dan who were girded with their weapons of warstood by the door of the gate. 17 And the five men who went to spy out the land went up, and entered into the house ofMichaias, and the priest stood. 18 And they took the graven image, and the ephod, and the theraphin, and the molten image;and the priest said to them, What are you⌃ doing? 19 And they said to him, Be silent, lay your hand upon your mouth, and come with us, andbe to us a father and a priest:is it better for you to be the priest of the house of one man, or to be the priest of a tribeand house for a family of Israel? 20 And the heart of the priest was glad, and he took the ephod, and the theraphin, and thegraven image, and the molten image, and went in the midst of the people. 21 So they turned and departed, and put their children and their property and their baggagebefore them. 22 They went some distance from the house of Michaias, and, behold, Michaias and the menin the houses near Michaias' house, cried out, and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And the children of Dan turned their face, and said to Michaias, What is the matter withyou that you have cried out? 24 And Michaias said, Because you⌃ have taken my graven image which I made, and my priest,and are gone; and what have I remaining? and whatis thisthat you⌃ say to me, Why crie you? 25 And the children of Dan said to him, Let not your voice be heard with us, lest angrymen run upon you, and take away your life, and the lives of your house. 26 And the children of Dan went their way; and Michaias saw that they were stronger thanhimself, and he returned to his house. 27 And the children of Dan took what Michaias had made, and the priest that he had, andthey came to Laisa, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword, andburnt the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer, becausethe city is far from the Sidonians, and they have no intercourse with men, and itis in the valley of the house of Raab; and they built the city, and lived in it. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who wasborn to Israel; and the name of the city was Ulamais before. 30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image for themselves; and Jonathan son of Gersonson of Manasse, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan till the time of the carrying away ofthe nation. 31 And they set up for themselves the graven image which Michaias made, all the days thatthe house of God was in Selom; and it was so in those daysthat there was no king in Israel.