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Nilibot ng mga tiktik ang buong lupain.

18 Nang mga araw na (A)yaon ay walang hari sa Israel: at nang panahong yaon ay humahanap ang (B)lipi ng mga Danita, ng isang mana na matatahanan; sapagka't hanggang sa araw na yaon, ay hindi nahuhulog sa mga lipi ng Israel ang kanilang mana.

At ang mga anak ni Dan ay nagsugo ng limang lalake ng kanilang angkan, sa kanilang kabuoang bilang, ng mga lalaking may tapang, na mula sa (C)Sora, at sa Esthaol, upang tiktikan ang lupain, at kilalanin; at sinabi nila sa kanila, Kayo'y yumaon, at inyong (D)kilalanin ang lupain. At sila'y naparoon sa lupaing maburol ng Ephraim, sa bahay ni Michas, at tumuloy roon.

Nang sila'y malapit sa bahay ni Michas, ay nakilala nila ang tinig ng binatang Levita: at sila'y lumiko roon, at sinabi nila sa kaniya, Sinong nagdala sa iyo rito? at ano ang iyong ginagawa sa dakong ito? at anong mayroon ka rito?

At sinabi niya sa kanila, Ganito't ganito ang ginawa sa akin ni Michas, at kaniyang kinayaring upahan ako, at ako'y (E)naging kaniyang saserdote.

At sinabi nila sa kaniya, (F)Isinasamo namin sa iyo na usisain mo sa (G)Dios, upang aming maalaman, kung ang aming lakad ay papalarin.

At sinabi ng saserdote sa kanila, (H)Yumaon kayong payapa: nasa harap ng Panginoon ang daang inyong nilalakaran.

Nang magkagayo'y lumakad ang limang lalake at dumating sa (I)Lais, at nakita ang bayan na naroon, kung paanong sila'y tumatahan sa katiwasayan, na gaya ng mga Sidonio, na (J)tahimik at tiwasay: sapagka't wala sa lupain na nagaaring may kapangyarihan na makapagbibigay kahihiyan sa alin mang bagay, at malayo sa mga Sidonio, at walang pagkikipagkasundo sa kaninoman.

At sila'y naparoon sa kanilang mga kapatid sa (K)Sora at Esthaol: at sinabi ng kanilang mga kapatid sa kanila, Ano kayo?

(L)At kanilang sinabi, Kayo'y bumangon at tayo'y umahon laban sa kanila: sapagka't aming nakita ang lupain, at, narito, (M)napakabuti: at natatamad ba kayo? huwag kayong magmakupad na yumaon at pumasok upang ariin ang lupain.

10 Paglakad ninyo'y darating kayo sa isang (N)bayang tiwasay, at ang lupain ay malaki: sapagka't ibinigay ng Dios sa inyong (O)kamay, isang dakong walang kakailanganing anomang bagay na nasa lupa.

Kinuha ng Danita ang mga larawan ni Michas, at kinuha ang lais.

11 At umalis mula roon ang ilan sa angkan ng mga Danita, mula sa Sora at sa Esthaol, na anim na raang lalake na may sandata ng mga kasakbatan na pangdigma.

12 At sila'y yumaon, at humantong sa (P)Chiriath-jearim, sa Juda; kaya't kanilang tinawag ang dakong yaon na Mahane-dan (Q)hanggang sa araw na ito: narito, ito'y nasa likod ng Chiriath-jearim.

13 At sila'y nagdaan doon hanggang sa lupaing maburol ng Ephraim, at naparoon sa bahay ni Michas.

14 Nang magkagayo'y sumagot ang limang lalake na tumiktik ng lupain ng Lais, at sinabi sa kanilang mga kapatid, (R)Nalalaman ba ninyo na mayroon sa mga bahay na ito na isang epod, at mga terap, at isang larawang inanyuan, at isang larawang binubo? ngayon nga'y akalain ninyo ang marapat ninyong gawin.

15 At sila'y lumiko roon, at naparoon sa bahay ng binatang Levita, sa makatuwid baga'y hanggang sa bahay ni Michas, at (S)tinanong nila siya ng kaniyang kalagayan.

16 At (T)ang anim na raang lalake na may sandata ng kanilang mga kasakbatan na pangdigma, na pawang mga anak ni Dan, ay nagsitayo sa pasukan ng pintuang-bayan.

17 At (U)ang limang lalake na yumaong tumiktik ng lupain ay nagsiahon at pumasok doon, at kinuha ang larawang inanyuan, at ang epod, at ang mga terap, at ang (V)larawang binubo, at ang saserdote ay nakatayo sa pasukan ng pintuang-bayan na kasama ng anim na raang lalake na may sandata ng kanilang mga kasakbatang pangdigma.

18 At nang pumasok ang mga ito sa bahay ni Michas, at makuha ang larawang inanyuan, ang epod, at ang mga terap, at ang larawang binubo, ay sinabi ng saserdote sa kanila, Ano ang inyong gagawin?

19 At sinabi nila sa kaniya, Pumayapa ka, (W)itakip mo ang iyong kamay sa iyong bibig at sumama ka sa amin, at maging (X)ama at saserdote ka namin: magaling ba kaya sa iyo ang maging saserdote sa bahay ng isang lalake o maging saserdote sa isang lipi at sa isang angkan sa Israel?

20 At natuwa ang (Y)puso ng saserdote, at kaniyang kinuha ang epod, at ang mga terap, at ang larawang inanyuan, at yumaon sa gitna ng bayan.

21 Sa gayo'y bumalik sila, at yumaon, at inilagay ang mga bata at ang kawan, at ang mga (Z)daladalahan, sa unahan nila.

22 Nang sila'y malayo na sa bahay ni Michas, ang mga lalaking nasa mga bahay na kalapit ng bahay ni Michas ay nagpipisan at inabot ang mga anak ni Dan.

23 At kaniyang sinigawan ang mga anak ni Dan. At inilingon nila ang kanilang mga mukha, at sinabi kay Michas, Anong mayroon ka, na ikaw ay nagpisan ng ganyang pulutong?

24 At kaniyang sinabi, Inyong kinuha ang (AA)aking mga dios na aking ginawa, at ang saserdote, at kayo'y yumaon, at ano pang mayroon ako? at bakit nga sasabihin ninyo sa akin, Anong mayroon ka?

25 At sinabi ng mga anak ni Dan sa kaniya, Huwag ng marinig ang iyong tinig, baka daluhungin ka ng mga mapusok na kasama, at iyong iwala ang iyong buhay, pati ng buhay ng iyong sangbahayan.

26 At ipinagpatuloy ng mga anak ni Dan ang kanilang lakad: at nang makita ni Michas na sila'y totoong malakas kay sa kaniya, ay bumalik at umuwi sa kaniyang bahay.

27 At kanilang kinuha ang ginawa ni Michas, at ang saserdote na kaniyang tinatangkilik, at (AB)naparoon sa Lais, sa bayang tahimik at tiwasay, (AC)at sinaktan nila ng talim ng tabak: at sinunog nila ang bayan.

28 At walang magligtas, sapagka't (AD)malayo sa Sidon, at sila'y walang pakikipagkasundo sa kanino man, at nasa libis na lumalaganap sa dakong (AE)Bethrehob. At kanilang itinayo ang bayan, at tinahanan nila.

29 At kanilang tinawag na Dan ang pangalan ng bayan, ayon sa pangalan ni (AF)Dan na kanilang ama na (AG)ipinanganak sa Israel: gayon ma'y ang pangalan ng bayan nang una ay (AH)Lais.

30 At itinayo sa kanilang sarili ng mga anak ni (AI)Dan ang larawang inanyuan: at si Jonathan na anak ni Gerson, na anak ni Moises, siya at ang kaniyang mga anak ay siyang mga saserdote sa lipi ng mga Danita hanggang sa araw ng pagkabihag sa lupain.

31 Gayon nila itinayo ang larawang inanyuan ni Michas na kaniyang ginawa, sa (AJ)buong panahon na ang bahay ng Dios ay nasa Silo.

Pleme Dan osvaja grad Laiš

18 U ono vrijeme Izrael nije imao kralja. Ljudi iz plemena Dan tražili su zemlju koju bi naselili. Naime, još im nije bila dodijeljena zemlja kao ostalim izraelskim plemenima. Danovi su potomci iz cijeloga svog plemena odabrali petoricu sposobnih ratnika iz Sore i Eštaola pa su ih poslali u izviđanje i istraživanje zemlje.

Rekli su im: »Idite i istražite zemlju!«

Oni su otišli u Efrajimovo gorje. Došli su do Mikine kuće i ondje prenoćili.

Kad su bili blizu Mikine kuće, prepoznali su glas mladoga Levita. Svratili su i pitali ga: »Tko te doveo ovamo? Što radiš ovdje? Zašto si tu?«

Levit im je ispričao kako je Mika s njim postupio. Rekao je: »Mika me unajmio i postao sam njegov svećenik«.

Tada su mu rekli: »Molimo te, pitaj Boga za nas. Želimo znati hoće li naš pothvat biti uspješan«.

»Idite u miru«, odgovorio je svećenik. »BOG pazi na vaš pothvat.«

Mala je skupina od petorice ljudi nastavila svoj put. Stigli su u grad Laiš. Ljudi su ondje živjeli u sigurnosti, pod vladavinom Sidonaca. U gradu je bilo mirno i tiho te su imali svega i uživali u blagostanju. Živjeli su daleko od Sidonaca i nisu imali nikakve obveze prema drugim narodima.

Kad su se petorica izviđača vratila u Soru i Eštaol, njihova su ih braća pitala o zemlji u kojoj su bili.

Odgovorili su: »Spremite se i krenimo na njih. Vidjeli smo zemlju. Veoma je dobra. Što čekate? Nemojte oklijevati! Krenimo i zaposjednimo zemlju! 10 Ondje je narod koji ne očekuje napad. Zemlja je velika i ni u čemu ne oskudijeva. Bog nam je predaje.«

11 Šesto naoružanih ljudi iz plemena Dan krenulo je iz Sore i Eštaola. 12 Utaborili su se pored grada Kirjat Jearima u Judi. Zato se to mjesto, zapadno od Kirjat Jearima, i danas zove Mahane Dan[a]. 13 Odatle su nastavili dalje u Efrajimovo gorje i stigli do Mikine kuće.

14 Petorica, koja su ranije išla u izviđanje zemlje oko grada Laiša, rekla su svojoj braći: »Znate li da u jednoj od ovih kuća postoji svećenički prsluk, kućni idoli, rezbareni kip i kip od srebra? Zato sad razmislite što ćete učiniti.«

15 Skrenuli su s puta i došli do Mikine kuće, u kojoj je živio mladi Levit. Pozdravili su mladića. 16 Šesto naoružanih Danovaca stajalo je pred ulazom u kuću. 17 Ona petorica, koja su ranije izviđala zemlju, ušla su u kuću i uzela rezbareni kip, svećenički prsluk, kućne bogove i srebrni kip. Svećenik je stajao pored ulaza, okružen sa šesto naoružanih ljudi.

18 Kad su ljudi ušli u Mikinu kuću i počeli uzimati stvari, svećenik ih je pitao: »Što to radite?«

19 »Tiho!« rekli su mu. »Rukom pokrij usta i dođi s nama. Budi nam otac i svećenik. Zar ti je bolje biti svećenik u kući jednog čovjeka nego biti svećenik cijeloga izraelskog plemena u kojem je mnogo obitelji?«

20 To se svidjelo svećeniku. Uzeo je prsluk, kućne bogove i rezbareni kip te pošao s ljudima iz Danovog plemena. 21 Krenuli su dalje svojim putem. Naprijed su bila djeca, životinje i stvari. 22 Kad su već odmaknuli od Mikine kuće, okupili su se ljudi iz Mikinog susjedstva i sustigli Danovce.

23 Vikali su za njima. Danovci su se okrenuli i pitali Miku: »Što je tebi? Zašto vičete na nas?«

24 »Uzeli ste moje svete predmete, koje sam napravio, i mog svećenika«, odgovorio je on. »Što mi je još ostalo? Kako me uopće možete pitati što mi je?«

25 Danovci su mu tada rekli: »Ne podiži svoj glas. Među nama ima naglih ljudi koji bi te mogli napasti, a ti i tvoja obitelj izgubili biste život.«

26 Danovci su krenuli dalje svojim putem. Mika je uvidio da su prejaki za njega pa se okrenuo i vratio kući.

27 A Danovci su došli u Laiš, noseći predmete koje je Mika napravio i vodeći njegovog svećenika. Ondje su zatekli stanovnike u miru i sigurnosti, koji nisu očekivali napad. Pobili su ih mačevima i spalili grad. 28 Stanovnicima grada nitko nije došao u pomoć jer su bili predaleko od grada Sidona i nisu imali saveznika. Bilo je to u dolini koja pripada gradu Bet Rehob. Danovci su obnovili grad i ondje se nastanili. 29 Grad su nazvali Dan, po svome pretku Danu koji je bio Izraelov sin. No, izvorno, grad se zvao Laiš.

30 Danovci su sebi postavili kip i štovali ga. Jonatan, Geršomov sin i Mojsijev[b] potomak, i njegovi sinovi bili su svećenici Danovog plemena sve do vremena kad je narod bio odveden u ropstvo. 31 Danovci su sebi postavili idola kojeg je napravio Mika. Taj je kip stajao u Šilu sve dok je ondje bio Božji dom.

Footnotes

  1. 18,12 Mahane Dan na hebrejskom znači »Danov tabor«.
  2. 18,30 Mojsijev Ili: »Manašeov«.

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

Dan’s Family Captures Laish

18 At that time the Israelites did not have a king. The people of Dan were still looking for a land where they could live. They wanted a land of their own. The other tribes of Israel already had their own lands. But the Danites did not yet have their own land. So they chose five soldiers from all their family groups. These five men were from the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. They sent the men to spy out and explore the land. They were told, “Go, explore the land.”

So they came to the mountains of Ephraim. They came to Micah’s house, where they spent the night. When they came near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite.[a] So they stopped at Micah’s house. They asked the young Levite, “Who brought you to this place? What are you doing here? Why are you here?”

He told them what Micah had done for him. “He has hired me. I am his priest.”

They said to him, “Please ask God something for us. Will our search for a place to live be successful?”

The priest said to them, “Go in peace. The Lord is pleased with your journey.”

So the five men left. They came to the city of Laish. They saw that the people there lived in safety. They were like the people of Sidon. They lived in peace and were not afraid of others. They had plenty of everything. They lived a long way from the Sidonians. And they had no dealings with anyone else.

The five men went back to Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, “What did you find?”

They answered, “We have seen the land. And it is very good. We should attack them. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t wait! Let’s go and take that land! 10 When you go, you will see there is plenty of land. There is plenty of everything! The people are not expecting an attack. Surely God has given that land to us!”

11 So 600 men of Dan left Zorah and Eshtaol. They were ready for war. 12 On their way they stopped near the city of Kiriath Jearim in Judah. They set up camp there. That is why the place is named Mahaneh Dan[b] to this very day. It is west of Kiriath Jearim. 13 From there they traveled on to the mountains of Ephraim. Then they came to Micah’s house.

14 So the five men who had explored the land around Laish spoke. They said to their relatives, “There is a vest for a priest in one of these houses. And there are household gods in these houses. There are also a carved idol and an idol of melted silver in these houses. You know what to do.” 15 So they stopped at the Levite’s house. This was also Micah’s house. And they greeted the Levite. 16 The 600 men of Dan stood at the gate entrance. They wore their weapons of war. 17 The five spies went into the house. They took the carved idol, the vest for a priest, the household idols and the silver idol. The priest and the 600 men ready for war stood by the gate entrance.

18 When the spies went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the vest for a priest, the household idols and the silver idol, the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”

19 They answered, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us. Be our father and our priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for the people in one man’s house? Or is it better for you to be a priest for a tribe and family group in Israel?” 20 This made the Levite happy. So he took the vest for a priest, the household idols and the carved idol. And he went with the men of Dan. 21 They left Micah’s house. They put their little children, their animals and everything they owned in front of them.

22 The men of Dan went a long way from Micah’s house. Then the men who lived near Micah were called out. They chased the men of Dan and caught up with them. 23 The men with Micah shouted at the men of Dan. The men of Dan turned around. They said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you? Why have you called out your men to fight?”

24 Micah answered, “You took my idols! I made those idols. You have also taken my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, ‘What’s the matter?’”

25 The men of Dan answered, “You should not argue with us. Some of our men have hot tempers. If you shout at us, they might attack you. You and your family might be killed.” 26 Then the men of Dan went on their way. Micah knew they were too strong for him. So he turned and went back home.

27 So the men of Dan took what Micah had made. They also took his priest and went on to Laish. They attacked those peaceful people. The people of Laish had not expected an attack. The men of Dan killed them with their swords. Then they burned the city. 28 There was no one to save the people of Laish. They lived too far from Sidon. And they had no dealings with anyone else. Laish was in a valley near Beth Rehob.

The people of Dan rebuilt the city in that place. And they lived there. 29 They changed the name of Laish to Dan. They named it after their ancestor Dan. He was one of the sons of Israel.

30 The people of Dan set up the idols in the city of Dan. They made Jonathan son of Gershom their priest. Gershom was the son of Moses. Jonathan and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan. They served as priests until the Israelites were taken captive. 31 The people of Dan worshiped the idols Micah had made. They worshiped them as long as the Holy Tent of God was in Shiloh.

Footnotes

  1. 18:3 Levite The Levites were the only ones God had appointed as priests.
  2. 18:12 Mahaneh Dan This name means “the camp of Dan.”

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.