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18 Zu der Zeit war kein König in Israel. Und der Stamm der Daniter suchte sich ein Erbteil, da sie wohnen möchten; denn es war bis auf den Tag noch kein Erbe auf sie gefallen unter den Stämmen Israels.

Und die Kinder Dan sandten aus ihren Geschlechtern von ihren Enden fünf streitbare Männer von Zora und Esthaol, das Land zu erkunden und zu erforschen, und sprachen zu ihnen: Ziehet hin und erforschet das Land. Und sie kamen auf das Gebirge Ephraim ans Haus Michas und blieben über Nacht daselbst.

Und da sie bei dem Gesinde Michas waren, erkannten sie die Stimme des Jünglings, des Leviten; und sie wichen von ihrem Weg dahin und sprachen zu ihm: Wer hat dich hierhergebracht? Was machst du da? Und was hast du hier?

Er antwortete ihnen: So und so hat Micha an mir getan und hat mich gedingt, daß ich sein Priester sei.

Sie sprachen zu ihm: Frage doch Gott, daß wir erfahren, ob unser Weg, den wir wandeln, auch wohl geraten werde.

Der Priester antwortete ihnen: Ziehet hin mit Frieden; euer Weg, den ihr ziehet, ist recht vor dem HERRN.

Da gingen die fünf Männer hin und kamen gen Lais und sahen das Volk, das darin war, sicher wohnen auf die Weise wie die Sidonier, still und sicher; und war niemand, der ihnen Leid täte im Land oder Herr über sie wäre, und waren ferne von den Sidoniern und hatten nichts mit Leuten zu tun.

Und sie kamen zu ihren Brüdern gen Zora und Esthaol; und ihre Brüder sprachen zu ihnen: Wie steht's mit euch?

Sie sprachen: Auf, laßt uns zu ihnen hinaufziehen! denn wir haben das Land besehen, das ist sehr gut. Darum eilt und seid nicht faul zu ziehen, daß ihr kommt, das Land einzunehmen.

10 Wenn ihr kommt, werdet ihr zu einem sichern Volke kommen, und das Land ist weit und breit; denn Gott hat's in eure Hände gegeben, einen solchen Ort, da nichts gebricht an alle dem, was auf Erden ist.

11 Da zogen von da aus den Geschlechtern Dan von Zora und Esthaol sechshundert Mann, gerüstet mit ihren Waffen zum Streit,

12 und zogen hinauf und lagerten sich zu Kirjath-Jearim in Juda. Daher nannten sie die Stätte das Lager Dan bis auf diesen Tag, das hinter Kirjath-Jearim liegt.

13 Und von da gingen sie auf das Gebirge Ephraim und kamen zum Hause Michas.

14 Da antworteten die fünf Männer, die ausgegangen waren, das Land Lais zu erkunden, und sprachen zu ihren Brüdern: Wißt ihr auch, daß in diesen Häusern ein Leibrock, Hausgötzen, Bildnis und Abgott sind? Nun möget ihr denken, was euch zu tun ist.

15 Sie kehrten da ein und kamen an das Haus des Jünglings, des Leviten, in Michas Haus und grüßten ihn freundlich.

16 Aber die sechshundert Gerüsteten mit ihren Waffen, die von den Kindern Dan waren, standen vor dem Tor.

17 Und die fünf Männer, die das Land zu erkunden ausgezogen waren, gingen hinauf und kamen dahin und nahmen das Bild, den Leibrock, die Hausgötzen und den Abgott. Dieweil stand der Priester vor dem Tor bei den sechshundert Gerüsteten mit ihren Waffen.

18 Als nun jene ins Haus Michas gekommen waren und nahmen das Bild, den Leibrock, die Hausgötzen und den Abgott, sprach der Priester zu ihnen: Was macht ihr?

19 Sie antworteten ihm: Schweige und halte das Maul zu und ziehe mit uns, daß du unser Vater und Priester seist. Ist dir's besser, daß du in des einen Mannes Haus Priester seist oder unter einem ganzen Stamm und Geschlecht in Israel?

20 Das gefiel dem Priester wohl, und er nahm den Leibrock, die Hausgötzen und das Bild und kam mit unter das Volk.

21 Und da sie sich wandten und hinzogen, schickten sie die Kindlein und das Vieh und was sie Köstliches hatten, vor sich her.

22 Da sie nun fern von Michas Haus kamen, wurden die Männer zuhauf gerufen, die in den Häusern waren bei Michas Haus, und folgten den Kindern Dan nach und riefen den Kindern Dan.

23 Sie aber wandten ihr Antlitz um und sprachen zu Micha: was ist dir, daß du also zuhauf kommst?

24 Er antwortete: Ihr habt meine Götter genommen, die ich gemacht hatte, und den Priester und ziehet hin; und was habe ich nun mehr? Und ihr fragt noch, was mir fehle?

25 Aber die Kinder Dan sprachen zu ihm: Laß deine Stimme nicht hören bei uns, daß nicht auf dich stoßen zornige Leute und deine Seele und deines Hauses Seele nicht hingerafft werde!

26 Also gingen die Kinder Dan ihres Weges. Und Micha, da er sah, daß sie ihm zu stark waren, wandte er sich um und kam wieder zu seinem Hause.

27 Sie aber nahmen, was Micha gemacht hatte, und den Priester, den er hatte, und kamen an Lais, an ein stilles, sicheres Volk, und schlugen es mit der Schärfe des Schwerts und verbrannten die Stadt mit Feuer.

28 Und war niemand, der sie errettete; denn sie lag fern von Sidon, und sie hatten mit den Leuten nichts zu schaffen; und sie lag im Grunde, welcher an Beth-Rehob liegt. Da bauten sie die Stadt und wohnten darin

29 und nannten sie Dan nach dem Namen ihres Vaters Dan, der Israel geboren war. (Und die Stadt hieß vorzeiten Lais.)

30 Und die Kinder Dan richteten für sich auf das Bild. Und Jonathan, der Sohn Gersons, des Sohnes Manasses, und seine Söhne waren Priester unter dem Stamm der Daniter bis an die Zeit, da sie aus dem Lande gefangen geführt wurden.

31 Also setzten sie unter sich das Bild Michas, das er gemacht hatte, so lange, als das Haus Gottes war zu Silo.

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

The Danites Adopt Micah’s Idolatry

18 In (A)those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days (B)the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them. So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from (C)Zorah and Eshtaol, (D)to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, “Go, search the land.” So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the (E)house of Micah, and lodged there. While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?”

He said to them, “Thus and so Micah did for me. He has (F)hired me, and I have become his priest.”

So they said to him, “Please (G)inquire (H)of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous.”

And the priest said to them, (I)“Go in peace. [a]The presence of the Lord be with you on your way.”

So the five men departed and went to (J)Laish. They saw the people who were there, (K)how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the (L)Sidonians, and they had no ties [b]with anyone.

Then the spies came back to their brethren at (M)Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, “What is your report?

So they said, (N)“Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you (O)do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land. 10 When you go, you will come to a (P)secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, (Q)a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”

11 And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war. 12 Then they went up and encamped in (R)Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place (S)Mahaneh Dan[c] to this day. There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.) 13 And they passed from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to (T)the house of Micah.

14 (U)Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, “Do you know that (V)there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do.” 15 So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man—to the house of Micah—and greeted him. 16 The (W)six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 Then (X)the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took (Y)the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with weapons of war.

18 When these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

19 And they said to him, “Be quiet, (Z)put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; (AA)be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?” 20 So the priest’s heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.

21 Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them. 22 When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And they called out to the children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah, (AB)“What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?”

24 So he said, “You have (AC)taken away my [d]gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What ails you?’ ”

25 And the children of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest [e]angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household!” 26 Then the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

Danites Settle in Laish

27 So they took the things Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; (AD)and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28 There was no deliverer, because it was (AE)far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs (AF)to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there. 29 And (AG)they called the name of the city (AH)Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. However, the name of the city formerly was Laish.

30 Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of [f]Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan (AI)until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image which he made, (AJ)all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 18:6 Lit. The Lord is before the way in which you go
  2. Judges 18:7 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX with Syria
  3. Judges 18:12 Lit. Camp of Dan
  4. Judges 18:24 idols
  5. Judges 18:25 Lit. bitter of soul
  6. Judges 18:30 LXX, Vg. Moses

Danites Take the Levite and the Idol

18 (A)In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days (B)the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, (C)from Zorah and from Eshtaol, (D)to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came (E)to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: (F)he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” And they said to him, (G)“Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” And the priest said to them, (H)“Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.”

Then the five men departed and came to (I)Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, (J)quiet and unsuspecting, lacking[a] nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how (K)they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. And when they came to their brothers at (L)Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, “What do you report?” They said, (M)“Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. (N)And will you do nothing? (O)Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land. 10 As soon as you go, you will come to an (P)unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, (Q)a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”

11 So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, (R)armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, 12 and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called (S)Mahaneh-dan[b] to this day; behold, it is west of (T)Kiriath-jearim. 13 And they passed on from there to (U)the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.

14 Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that (V)in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.” 15 And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and (W)asked him about his welfare. 16 Now the 600 men of the Danites, (X)armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 And (Y)the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took (Z)the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war. 18 And when these went into Micah's house and took (AA)the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19 And they said to him, “Keep quiet; (AB)put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us (AC)a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” 20 And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.

21 So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and (AD)the goods in front of them. 22 When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. 23 And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?” 24 And he said, (AE)“You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, ‘What is the matter with you?’” 25 And the people of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household.” 26 Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

27 But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people (AF)quiet and unsuspecting, and (AG)struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer because it was (AH)far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to (AI)Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it. 29 And they named the city (AJ)Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but (AK)the name of the city was Laish at the first. 30 And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, (AL)son of Moses,[c] (AM)and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day (AN)of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, (AO)as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 18:7 Compare 18:10; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Judges 18:12 Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan
  3. Judges 18:30 Or Manasseh