Judges 18:2-10

International Standard Version

² So the tribe^[a] of Dan sent from their families five valiant men of their number from Zorah and Eshtaol to scout the land and search through it. Following their orders, which were “Go and scout the land,” they came to the mountainous region^[b] of Ephraim, arrived at Micah’s home, and stayed there.

³ As they approached Micah’s home, they recognized the voice of the young male descendant of Levi. They turned aside from there and spoke to him, asking him, “Who brought you here? What work are you doing here? And what’s your business here?”

⁴ He answered, “Micah did such and such for me, and has hired me, so I’ve become his priest.”

⁵ They replied, “Go ask God, please, about whether or not we’ll be successful in this journey.”

⁶ The priest responded to them, “Travel in peace. The mission that you’re to accomplish is from the Lord.”

⁷ So the five men left and went to Laish, and observed the people who were living there carefree, as Sidonians tend to do, in peace and quiet. There was no ruler in the land oppressing them for any reason. They were living far away from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone.^{[c] 8} When they returned to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, “What’s your report?”^[d]

⁹ They replied, “Let’s get going and attack them. We’ve scouted out the land—and look!—it’s a very good one. Why should we sit still? We can’t wait to go back, invade, and take over the land. ¹⁰ When you invade, you’ll meet a carefree people living in a spacious territory. God has given it into your control—it’s a place that lacks nothing on this earth!”