Judg 18 | ABEn | STEP | In those days there was not a king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of Dan sought for itself an inheritance to dwell, for [ 2 did not 3 fall in 4 to it 5 until 6 that day 7 in 8 the midst 9 of the tribes 10 of Israel 1 an inheritance].

Judges 18

CHAPTER 18 Dan Seeks an Inheritance

1 In those days there was not a king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of Dan sought for itself an inheritance to dwell, for [²did not ³fall in ⁴to it ⁵until ⁶that day ⁷in ⁸the midst ⁹of the tribes ¹⁰of Israel ¹an inheritance]. 2 And [⁴sent out ¹the ²sons ³of Dan] from their peoples five men from their part, men of sons of power, from Zorah and Esthaol, to survey the land, and to track it. And they said to them, Go, and search out the land! And they came unto mount Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and they rested there. 3 In their being by the house of Micah, that they knew the voice of the young man, the Levite, and they turned aside there. And they said to him, Who brought you here? And what do you do here? And what is it here? 4 And he said to them, [³so ⁴and ⁵so ²did ⁶with me ¹Micah], and hired me, and I became to him for a priest. 5 And they said to him, Ask indeed to God! that we will know if [²greatly prospers ¹our way] which we go by it. 6 And [³said ⁴to them ¹the ²priest], Go in peace before the lord! your way by which you go by it. 7 And [⁴went ¹the ²five ³men] and came into Laish. And they saw the people in it dwelling in hope as the amalgamation of the Sidonians, being tranquil in hope, and not being able to speak a word in the land, for they are far from Sidon, and [²word ¹there was no] to them with Syria. 8 And [⁴came ¹the ²five ³men] to their brethren in Zorah and in Esthaol. And [²said ³to them ¹their brethren], Why do you sit down? 9 And they said, Rise up, for we should ascend against them! for we saw the land, and behold, [²good, ¹it is exceedingly]. And you are silent? You should not be reluctant to go and to enter to inherit the land. 10 When ever you should enter, you shall come to a people being secure, and the land of broad space, for [²delivered it over ¹God] into your hand. A place where there is not [²there ¹any deficiency] of a thing as much as is on the earth. 11 And they departed from there, from the kin of Dan, from Zorah and from Esthaol -- six hundred men being girded with weapons for battle. 12 And they ascended and camped in Kirjath-jearim in Judah. On account of this [²was called ¹that place], Camp of Dan until this day. Behold, it is behind Kirjath-jearim. 13 And they went from there unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

Micah's Idols Stolen

14 And [⁹responded ¹the ²five ³men ⁴going ⁵to survey ⁶the ⁷land ⁸of Laish]. And they said to their brethren, Did you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a carved image, and a molten image? And now know what you shall do! 15 And they turned aside there, and entered into the house of the young man -- the Levite, into the house of Micah, and they asked him for peace. 16 And the six hundred men being girded with weapons for their warfare, being set up by the door of the gatehouse, were the ones from the sons of Dan. 17 Then [⁸ascended ¹the ²five ³men ⁴going ⁵to survey ⁶the ⁷land]; and coming there, they took the carved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. And the priest was set up by the door of the gatehouse, and the six hundred men were girded with weapons for warfare. 18 And when these entered into the house of Micah, and took the carved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, that [³said ⁴to ⁵them ¹the ²priest], What do you do? 19 And they said to him, Be silent, place your hand over your mouth, and come with us! and you will be to us for a father and for a priest. Is it not better for you to be a priest of the house [²man ¹of one], or for you to be priest of a tribe and kin in Israel? 20 And it was good to the heart of the priest. And he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the carved image, and the molten image, and entered into the midst of the people. 21 And they turned and went forth, and put the children, and the property, and the load before them. 22 And they were far from the house of Micah, and behold, Micah and the men in the houses, near the house of Micah cried out, and they overtook the sons of Dan. 23 And they yelled to the sons of Dan. And [⁴turned ¹the ²sons ³of Dan] their faces, and they said to Micah, What is it to you that you cry out? 24 And he said, The gods which I made you took, and the priest, and you departed. And what is there to me still? And what is this you say to me, Why is this that you cry out? 25 And [⁴said ⁵to ⁶him ¹the ²sons ³of Dan], [²should not ³be heard ¹Your voice] with us, lest at any time [⁴should confront ⁵you ¹men ²in severe pain ³of soul], and you shall add your life, and the life of your household. 26 And [⁴went ¹the ²sons ³of Dan] on their way. And Micah saw that [²too mighty ³for him ¹they are], and he turned aside and returned to his house.

The Sons of Dan Destroy Laish

27 And they took as much as Micah made, and the priest who was with him, and they went unto Laish, upon a people being tranquil, and being secure. And they struck them by the mouth of the broadsword, and the city they burned by fire. 28 And there is no one rescuing, for it is far from Sidon, and communication is not to them with man; and it is in the valley which is of the house of Rehob. And they built up the city, and dwelt in it. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, according to the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. And [⁵was ⁶Laish ¹the name ²to the ³city ⁴formerly]. 30 And [⁴set up ⁵for themselves ¹the ²sons ³of Dan] the carved image. And Jonathan, son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the displacement of the land. 31 And they themselves stationed the carved image Micah made all the days, as many as [⁴was ¹the ²house ³of God] in Shiloh. And it came to pass in those days there was no king in Israel.