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ライシュを攻め取るダン族

18 こうした話でもわかるように、そのころイスラエルには王がいませんでした。さて、ダン族は自分たちの相続地を得ようとしていました。まだ割り当て地を攻め取っていなかったからです。 そこで、ツォルアとエシュタオルの町から勇士五人を選び、土地を偵察させました。エフライムの山地に着いた五人は、ミカの家に宿を取りました。 そして、レビ人なまりの若者に気づき、近くに呼んで尋ねたのです。「ここで何をしているのですか。なぜこんな所にいるのです?」

若者はミカとの取り決めについて話し、ミカの私的な祭司であることを告げました。

「そうですか。それなら、われわれの旅が成功するかどうか、ひとつ、神に伺ってくれませんか。」

「安心して旅を続けてください。主は皆さんを、お心にかけていらっしゃいますよ。」

やがて五人は、ライシュの町に入り込みました。そして、住民がみな安穏と暮らしているのに気づきました。生活ぶりもフェニキヤ人らしく、たいそう裕福なものでした。この辺りでは脅威を与える強い部族もなかったので、彼らは無防備同然で、安心しきっていました。そのうえ、シドンにいる同族とも遠く離れ、近隣の村々ともほとんど交渉を断っていたのです。 偵察に来た五人は、ツォルアとエシュタオルへ帰りました。待ちかねていた人々は尋ねました。「どうだったのか、向こうの様子は?」

9-10 「ぜひ攻め取ろう。見た限りでは申し分ない所だ。土地は広々として、よく肥えている。それに、全く無防備だった。さあ、出かけよう。神様があの地を与えてくださるのだ。」

11 そこで、ダン族の兵六百人が、ツォルアとエシュタオルから送り込まれました。 12 第一夜は、ユダのキルヤテ・エアリムの西側で過ごしました。そこは今も、マハネ・ダン〔ダンの陣営〕と呼ばれています。 13 そこからエフライムの山地へと、進軍を続けたのです。

ミカの家に差しかかった時、 14 先の偵察隊の五人が言いました。「この家にはエポデやテラフィム、それに彫像をたくさん安置した聖堂がある。となると、われわれのなすべきことはわかっているな。」

15-16 五人は残りの兵を門外に立たせたまま、邸内に入りました。まず、あの若い祭司にあいさつすると、 17 五人は聖堂に踏み込み、彫像やエポデやテラフィムを持ち出そうとしました。

18 「何をするんだ」と、若い祭司はさえぎりました。

19 「どうか、おとなしく私どもとともにおいでくださり、われわれの祭司におなりなさい。あなただって、一軒の家でたった一人に仕えるより、部族全体の祭司になるほうがいいのではありませんか。」

20 すると祭司は誘いに応じ、エポデやテラフィム、彫像を取って彼らの一員に加わりました。

21 一行はそこを引き揚げ、子ども、家畜、家財などを隊列の先頭に立てて先を進みました。 22 ミカの家からかなり離れたところで、ミカと近所の人々が追いかけて来て、 23 大声で言いました。「待ちなさい!」

「いったいどうしたのですか。ずいぶんものものしいですが。」

24 ミカは答えました。「『どうしたのだ』とは、しらじらしい。私の神々から祭司まで、いっさいがっさい持ち出しておきながら。家が空っぽになっているではないか!」

25 「何ですと? もっと気をつけてものを言ってほしいな。でないと、腹を立てた連中が、あなたがたを皆殺しにしかねませんよ。」

26 こう言い捨てると、ダンの人々は去って行きました。相手が大ぜいすぎて手出しがかなわないと悟ったミカは、すごすごと家へ引き返しました。

27 一方ダンの人々は、ミカの造った彫像と祭司を伴い、ライシュの町に着きました。町は全く無防備だったので、住民を襲って打ち、町を焼き払いました。 28 だれも、住民を助ける者はいません。シドンから遠く離れていたうえ、周囲の町とも同盟を結んでおらず、どことも交渉がなかったからです。町はベテ・レホブに近い谷にあり、ダン族は町を再建し、そこに住みつきました。 29 町の名も「ダン」と改めました。彼らの先祖で、イスラエルの息子の一人ダンの名にちなんだものです。元の名はライシュでした。 30 ダンの人々は自分たちのために彫像を立て、ゲルショムの子で、モーセの孫に当たるヨナタンとその子孫を祭司に任命しました。彼らは、その地の民が捕囚となるまで代々祭司を務めました。 31 こうして、神の宮がシロにあった間中、ダン族はミカの彫像を拝んでいました。

The Danites Settle in Laish

18 In those days Israel had no king.(A)

And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.(B) So the Danites(C) sent five of their leading men(D) from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out(E) the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”(F)

So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah,(G) where they spent the night. When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite;(H) so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”

He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, “He has hired me and I am his priest.(I)

Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God(J) to learn whether our journey will be successful.”

The priest answered them, “Go in peace(K). Your journey has the Lord’s approval.”

So the five men(L) left and came to Laish,(M) where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure.(N) And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous.[a] Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians(O) and had no relationship with anyone else.[b]

When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellow Danites asked them, “How did you find things?”

They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over.(P) 10 When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing(Q) whatever.(R)

11 Then six hundred men(S) of the Danites,(T) armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12 On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim(U) in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan[c](V) to this day. 13 From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.(W)

14 Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish(X) said to their fellow Danites, “Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod,(Y) some household gods and an image overlaid with silver?(Z) Now you know what to do.” 15 So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him. 16 The six hundred Danites,(AA) armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate. 17 The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods(AB) while the priest and the six hundred armed men(AC) stood at the entrance of the gate.

18 When the five men went into Micah’s house and took(AD) the idol, the ephod and the household gods,(AE) the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

19 They answered him, “Be quiet!(AF) Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest.(AG) Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan(AH) in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” 20 The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people. 21 Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.

22 When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. 23 As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?”

24 He replied, “You took(AI) the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’”

25 The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” 26 So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him,(AJ) turned around and went back home.

27 Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure.(AK) They attacked them with the sword and burned(AL) down their city.(AM) 28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon(AN) and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob.(AO)

The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. 29 They named it Dan(AP) after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish.(AQ) 30 There the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom,(AR) the son of Moses,[d] and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. 31 They continued to use the idol Micah had made,(AS) all the time the house of God(AT) was in Shiloh.(AU)

Footnotes

  1. Judges 18:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  2. Judges 18:7 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts with the Arameans
  3. Judges 18:12 Mahaneh Dan means Dan’s camp.
  4. Judges 18:30 Many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; many other Hebrew manuscripts and some other Septuagint manuscripts Manasseh

18 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the Lord is your way wherein ye go.

Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.

And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.

10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.

11 And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.

12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

13 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

15 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.

17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.

18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?

19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

20 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

23 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

24 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?

25 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.