11 Then from the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out. 12 They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they called that place [a](A)Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is [b]west of Kiriath-jearim. 13 And they passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

Danites Take Micah’s Idols

14 Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish [c]said to their kinsmen, “Do you know that there are in these houses (B)an ephod and [d]household idols, and a carved image and a cast metal image? Now then, consider what you should do.” 15 So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked [e]him how he was doing. 16 Meanwhile, the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, were positioned at the entrance of the gate. 17 Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there; they took (C)the carved image, the ephod, the [f]household idols, and the cast metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. 18 When these men entered Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, [g]household idols, and the cast metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19 And they said to him, “Be silent, (D)put your hand over your mouth, and go with us, and be to us (E)a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a 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 [h]household idols, and the carved image, and went among the people.

21 Then they turned and left, and put the children, the livestock, and the valuables in front of them. 22 When they had distanced themselves from Micah’s house, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house assembled by command and overtook the sons of Dan. 23 Then they called out to the sons of Dan, who turned [i]around and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you, that you have assembled together?” 24 And he said, “You have taken my gods which I made, and the priest, and have gone away; what more do I have? So how can you say to me, ‘What is the matter with you?’” 25 Then the sons of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, or else [j]fierce men will attack you, and you will [k]lose your life and the lives of your household.” 26 So the sons of Dan went on their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

27 Then they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and came to (F)Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burned the city with fire. 28 And there was no one to save them, because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone, and it was in the valley which is near (G)Beth-rehob. So they rebuilt the city and lived in it. 29 And (H)they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born to Israel; however, the name of the city was previously Laish. 30 The sons of Dan set up for themselves (I)the carved image; and Jonathan, the son of (J)Gershom, the son of [l]Manasseh, (K)he 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 carved image which he had made, all the time that the (L)house of God was in Shiloh.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Judges 18:12 I.e., the camp of Dan
  2. Judges 18:12 Lit behind
  3. Judges 18:14 Lit answered and said
  4. Judges 18:14 Heb teraphim
  5. Judges 18:15 Lit his well-being
  6. Judges 18:17 Heb teraphim
  7. Judges 18:18 Heb teraphim
  8. Judges 18:20 Heb teraphim
  9. Judges 18:23 Lit their faces
  10. Judges 18:25 Lit bitter of soul
  11. Judges 18:25 Lit take away
  12. Judges 18:30 Some ancient versions Moses

Bible Gateway Recommends