⁷ So the five men went on to the town of Laish, where they noticed the people living carefree lives, like the Sidonians; they were peaceful and secure.^[a] The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.

²⁷ Then, with Micah’s idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked with swords and burned the town to the ground. ²⁸ There was no one to rescue the people, for they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob.

Then the people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt the town and lived there.

¹⁴ or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

³ For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

⁶ Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.

¹³ I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God^[a] and he hasn’t disciplined them.