⁷ The five men went on, and when they came to Laish, they observed the people who were there living securely, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking^[a] nothing on earth, and possessing wealth.^[b] Furthermore, they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with Aram.^[c](A)

⁴⁷ When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and putting it to the sword, they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem Dan, after their ancestor Dan.^(A)

The Danites Settle in Laish

²⁷ The Danites, having taken what Micah had made and the priest who belonged to him, came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, put them to the sword, and burned down the city.^{(A) 28} There was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with Aram.^[a] It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it.^(B)

¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval,^(A)

⁶ His father had never at any time reprimanded him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.^(A)

¹³ For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God,^[a] and he did not restrain them.^(A)