Judges 18 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Judges 18 meaning explained in AI Summary

The Danites and Micah's Idols: This chapter tells the story of the Danites, a tribe searching for new territory, who steal Micah's idols and establish their own city.

Chapter 18 of Judges tells the story of the tribe of Dan seeking new territory and their unfortunate encounter with Micah and the Levite.

1. Dan's Search for Land: The Danites, facing a land shortage, send out five spies to find a suitable place to settle.

2. Encounter with Micah and the Levite: The spies stumble upon Micah's house and recognize the Levite they had met before (from Chapter 17). They inquire about the land's favorability.

3. The Spies' Deception: The spies, pleased with the land and Micah's hospitality, continue their mission to Laish. They discover a peaceful and prosperous people, isolated and unaware of potential threats.

4. Dan Conquers Laish: The Danites, following the spies' report, assemble a fighting force and attack Laish. They mercilessly conquer the city, burning it down and killing its inhabitants.

5. Theft of Micah's Idols: On their way to Laish, the Danites had stolen Micah's idols, ephod, and household gods. They persuade the Levite to join them, promising him a better position.

6. Establishment of Dan: The Danites rebuild Laish and rename it Dan, after their ancestor. They set up Micah's stolen idols as their own, initiating a pattern of idolatry.

7. The Legacy of Idolatry: The chapter concludes by highlighting that the Danites continued to worship the stolen idols until the Ark of the Covenant was captured. This act emphasizes the theme of moral decay and the dangers of idolatry within Israel.

Key Themes:

Land and Inheritance: The chapter highlights the struggle for land and resources among the tribes of Israel.
Idolatry and Moral Decline: The theft and worship of Micah's idols illustrate the growing problem of idolatry and its corrupting influence.
Violence and Conquest: The brutal conquest of Laish demonstrates the harsh realities of the time and the potential for violence within Israel.
The Role of Leadership: The lack of strong, centralized leadership contributes to the chaos and moral ambiguity depicted in the chapter.

Chapter 18 paints a bleak picture of the period of the Judges, marked by internal strife, moral decay, and the absence of unity and righteous leadership.

Judges 18 bible study ai commentary

This chapter provides a tragic case study of the book's central thesis: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." It chronicles the migration and apostasy of the tribe of Dan. Failing to secure their God-given inheritance, they embark on a self-directed quest, sanctioning their plans with a corrupt Levite priest. Their journey culminates in theft, violence against a peaceful people, and the establishment of an idolatrous sanctuary that would rival God's true tabernacle and plague Israel for centuries.

Judges 18 Context

The events of Judges 17-18 likely occurred early in the period of the Judges, before the establishment of a strong national identity. The tribe of Dan was originally allotted territory on the Mediterranean coast, but they failed to drive out the powerful Amorites and were pushed into the hill country (Judges 1:34). Under increasing pressure from the Philistines, a portion of the tribe sought an easier territory to conquer. This story highlights a period of spiritual and political anarchy, where individual and tribal self-interest replaced covenant faithfulness to Yahweh. The focus is on a self-made religion, justified by a hireling priest, serving the pragmatic needs of the tribe rather than the commands of God.

Judges 18:1

In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.

In-depth-analysis

"No king in Israel": This is a recurring literary refrain (17:6, 19:1, 21:25) that frames the narrative. The problem is not merely political but theological; Yahweh was meant to be their king, but they have rejected His rule.
"Seeking for itself an inheritance": This is a damning statement. God, through Joshua, had already assigned them an inheritance (Joshua 19:40-46). Their quest is an act of disbelief and disobedience, a rejection of God's provision.
"Had not fallen to them": The Hebrew implies they had not successfully taken possession of their allotment. They failed in their God-given task (Judges 1:34) and are now seeking a solution on their own terms.

Bible references

Judges 1:34: The Amorites forced the people of Dan into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. (Historical reason for their search).
Joshua 19:47: When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem... and called Leshem, Dan... (A summary of the event this chapter details).

Cross references

Deu 12:8 (don't do what is right in your own eyes), Jos 19:40-48 (original allotted inheritance), Psa 78:9 (Ephraim failed, similar to Dan).

Judges 18:2-6

So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their clan... to spy out the land... When they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there... They turned aside there and said to [the Levite], “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” ...And he said to them, “Inquire of God for us, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you are going is under the LORD's approval.”

In-depth-analysis

The Danites send spies, echoing the mission in Numbers 13, but this is a purely self-serving expedition, not one commanded by God.
They recognize the Levite's southern dialect, highlighting how out-of-place he is, serving a private shrine in Ephraim.
They desire a religious blessing for a plan they have already decided on. This is not seeking God's will but seeking divine approval for human ambition.
The Levite, a priest for hire, provides a false and convenient oracle. His answer, "Go in peace," assures them of God's blessing (šālōm) on a path of disobedience. This priest's primary function is to legitimize the desires of his patrons.

Bible references

1 Kings 22:6-8: Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together... and said... "Shall I go to battle... or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king." (Kings seek prophets who will tell them what they want to hear).
Jeremiah 23:16-17: Do not listen to the words of the prophets... They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, 'It shall be well with you'... (Condemnation of false prophets who promise peace).
2 Timothy 4:3: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. (A perfect description of the Danites and the Levite).

Cross references

Num 13:1-2 (spying mission done right), Hos 4:9 ('like people, like priest'), Mic 3:11 (leaders judge for a bribe, priests teach for a price).

Judges 18:7-10

Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting... And they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with any other people... the spies said... “Arise, and let us go up against them... a spacious land... God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”

In-depth-analysis

Laish: The city is described as an ideal target: peaceful, isolated, wealthy, and undefended. The term "quiet and unsuspecting" underscores their vulnerability.
"After the manner of the Sidonians": This links them culturally to the Phoenicians but emphasizes their fatal flaw: unlike Sidon, they are "far from the Sidonians" and have no allies to call upon for aid.
"God has given it into your hands": The spies attribute their discovery of a soft target to divine favor. This is a perversion of the language used during the legitimate conquest under Joshua. They twist theology to justify violent, opportunistic conquest.

Bible references

Deuteronomy 8:7-9: For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land... a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing. (The spies co-opt the language God used for the Promised Land to describe their target).
1 Thessalonians 5:3: While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them... (The security of Laish was an illusion, leading to their doom).

Cross references

Gen 13:10 (Lot choosing the well-watered plain), Eze 38:11 (describing a people living in unwalled villages, ripe for attack).

Judges 18:11-20

So 600 men of the tribe of Dan... set out from there... And the five men who had gone to spy out the land... took the carved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the metal image... And the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” They said to him, “Keep quiet... and come with us, and be to us 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?” And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod... and went among the people.

In-depth-analysis

This section details a calculated robbery. The Danites see Micah’s religion as a useful commodity and simply take it.
The Levite's weak protest, "What are you doing?" is immediately silenced by a better offer. He is offered a promotion: from a family priest to a tribal priest.
"Father and a priest": The term "father" implies spiritual authority and honor, which they offer him as a bribe.
"The priest's heart was glad": This phrase exposes the Levite’s complete lack of spiritual integrity. His joy comes from career advancement and status, not from serving God. He readily abandons Micah, his first benefactor, for a better deal. His entire ministry is based on self-interest.

Bible references

Micah 3:11: Its priests teach for a price... yet they lean on the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD in the midst of us?” (Priests who serve for money).
1 Timothy 3:3: [An overseer must not be] a lover of money. (A quality this Levite completely lacks).
John 10:12-13: He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd... sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep... because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. (The Levite is a quintessential "hired hand").

Cross references

Isa 56:11 (greedy watchmen), Tit 1:11 (teaching for shameful gain).

Judges 18:21-26

So they turned and departed... When they were a good distance from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. ...Micah said, “You have taken my gods that I made, and the priest, and you have gone away, and what have I left?” And the people of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry men fall upon you and you lose your life...” So Micah saw that they were too strong for him, and he turned and went back to his home.

In-depth-analysis

"My gods that I made": Micah’s cry is filled with pathetic irony. He admits the man-made nature of his gods, yet he is devastated by their loss. The gods that cannot save themselves from being stolen are the foundation of his faith.
The Danites' response is pure thuggery. They do not justify their actions; they simply threaten Micah with violence. This is the principle of "might makes right," a complete abandonment of law, justice, and covenant.
Micah's weakness is exposed. He initiated a chain of apostasy for his own convenience and now falls victim to a stronger, more ruthless group who operate by the same self-serving principles.

Bible references

Isaiah 44:17: And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” (The folly of man-made gods).
Psalm 115:4-8: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... Those who make them become like them... (The powerlessness of idols and the spiritual emptiness of their makers).

Cross references

Deu 28:15, 36 (curses for disobedience, including being overpowered), Jer 10:3-5 (idols are worthless wood).

Judges 18:27-31

But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest... and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire... They... called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor... And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up Micah's carved image... all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh.

In-depth-analysis

Jonathan, son of Gershom, son of Manasseh: This is the most shocking revelation. Textual and historical analysis strongly indicates that "Manasseh" (מְנַשֶּׁה) is a deliberate scribal alteration of "Moses" (מֹשֶׁה). Scribes inserted a suspended letter nun (נ) to disguise the name, likely out of reverence for Moses. The first priest of Israel's first institutionalized idolatrous shrine was the grandson of Moses himself. This reveals the catastrophic depth of the spiritual decay.
"Until the day of the captivity of the land": This idolatrous cult was not a temporary fad. It lasted for centuries, likely until the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom in 722 BC.
"All the time that the house of God was at Shiloh": This final sentence is a direct polemic. The author contrasts Dan’s illegitimate, man-made sanctuary with God’s authorized dwelling place at Shiloh. For centuries, two rival worship centers existed: one established by God, the other established by apostate Israelites through theft and violence.

Bible references

1 Kings 12:28-30: So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold... And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. And this thing became a sin... (Jeroboam later builds upon this pre-existing idolatrous tradition in Dan, making it state policy).
Revelation 7:4-8: The list of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel notably omits the tribe of Dan, which many theologians link to their deep-rooted and institutionalized apostasy.
Deuteronomy 12:5, 11: But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose... to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go... (The direct command violated by the shrine at Dan).

Polemics

The story serves as a powerful polemic against religious syncretism (mixing Yahweh worship with pagan elements) and self-willed religion. By juxtaposing Dan's idolatry with the "house of God at Shiloh," the author condemns any worship that is not authorized by and centered on God's specific commands. The narrative demonstrates that a religion founded on human convenience and self-interest, even one using a Levite priest and the name of the LORD, is an abomination that leads to violence, theft, and enduring spiritual corruption.

Judges Chapter 18 Analysis

The Anatomy of Apostasy: The chapter lays out a clear progression of sin. It begins with dissatisfaction and disobedience (rejecting their inheritance), moves to pragmatism (seeking an easier life), is sanctioned by false religion (the Levite's oracle), and culminates in theft, violence, and institutionalized idolatry.
Failure of Leadership: Every potential authority figure fails. The Danites act out of tribal self-interest, not national covenant. The Levite, a descendant of Moses, prostitutes his office for pay and prestige. Micah, the instigator, is powerless when his own selfish principles are used against him.
From Private to Public Sin: Chapter 17 details a private, household apostasy. Chapter 18 shows how that private sin metastasizes into a public, tribal institution with a legacy lasting centuries. It serves as a warning of how tolerated private sin can corrupt an entire community.
The Shadow of Jeroboam: The Danites’ establishment of a sanctuary at Dan created a religious precedent. When Jeroboam I broke away from Judah and Jerusalem, he did not invent a new rebellion but tapped into this existing, deep-seated idolatrous tradition at Dan (and Bethel) to consolidate his political power.
The Rejection of Dan: Dan’s legacy is one of rebellion. Along with being the first to institutionalize idolatry, Jewish tradition sometimes associated the tribe with the Antichrist, partly due to its omission in Revelation 7 and the prophecy in Genesis 49:17 that "Dan shall be a serpent in the way."

Judges 18 Summary

The tribe of Dan, failing to secure their divine inheritance, dispatches spies who find the peaceful city of Laish. Guided by a self-serving oracle from Micah’s hireling priest, 600 Danites migrate north. On their way, they steal Micah’s idols and his priest, luring him with a promotion. They then brutally conquer the unsuspecting people of Laish, rename it Dan, and install Moses’s own grandson as the priest of a new, institutionalized idolatrous shrine that stands in direct opposition to God's tabernacle at Shiloh for hundreds of years.

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Judges chapter 18 kjv

¹ 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.
² And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valor, 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.
³ 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?
⁴ And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
⁵ 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.
⁶ And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
⁷ 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.
⁸ And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
⁹ 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.

Judges chapter 18 nkjv

¹ In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days 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.
² So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, 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 house of Micah, and lodged there.
³ 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?"
⁴ He said to them, "Thus and so Micah did for me. He has hired me, and I have become his priest."
⁵ So they said to him, "Please inquire of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous."
⁶ And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The presence of the LORD be with you on your way."
⁷ So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, 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 Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone.
⁸ Then the spies came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, "What is your report?"
⁹ So they said, "Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land.
¹⁰ When you go, you will come to a secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, 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 Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.)
¹³ And they passed from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
¹⁴ Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, "Do you know that 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 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 the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took 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, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; 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, "What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?"
²⁴ So he said, "You have taken away my 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 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.
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; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
²⁸ There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there.
²⁹ And they called the name of the city 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 Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
³¹ So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges chapter 18 niv

¹ In those days Israel had no king. 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.
² So the Danites sent five of their leading men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, "Go, explore the land." So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.
³ When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"
⁴ He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest."
⁵ Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful."
⁶ The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval."
⁷ So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else.
⁸ When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellow Danites asked them, "How did you find things?"
⁹ 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.
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 whatever."
¹¹ Then six hundred men of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
¹² On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan to this day.
¹³ From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house.
¹⁴ Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their fellow Danites, "Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, some household gods and an image overlaid with silver? 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, 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 while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance of the gate.
¹⁸ When the five men went into Micah's house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
¹⁹ They answered him, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it better that you serve a tribe and clan 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 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, 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. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city.
²⁸ There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there.
²⁹ They named it Dan after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel?though the city used to be called Laish.
³⁰ There the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, 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, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges chapter 18 esv

¹ In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days 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.
² So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
³ 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?"
⁴ And he said to them, "This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest."
⁵ And they said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed."
⁶ And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD."
⁷ Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
⁸ And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, "What do you report?"
⁹ They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land.
¹⁰ As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."
¹¹ So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, 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 Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
¹³ And they passed on from there to 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 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 asked him about his welfare.
¹⁶ Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate.
¹⁷ And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took 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 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; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us 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 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, "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 quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.
²⁸ And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.
²⁹ And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but 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, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
³¹ So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

Judges chapter 18 nlt

¹ Now in those days Israel had no king. And the tribe of Dan was trying to find a place where they could settle, for they had not yet moved into the land assigned to them when the land was divided among the tribes of Israel.
² So the men of Dan chose from their clans five capable warriors from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol to scout out a land for them to settle in. When these warriors arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they came to Micah's house and spent the night there.
³ While at Micah's house, they recognized the young Levite's accent, so they went over and asked him, "Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"
⁴ He told them about his agreement with Micah and that he had been hired as Micah's personal priest.
⁵ Then they said, "Ask God whether or not our journey will be successful."
⁶ "Go in peace," the priest replied. "For the LORD is watching over your journey."
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. The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.
⁸ When the men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What did you find?"
⁹ The men replied, "Come on, let's attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. What are you waiting for? Don't hesitate to go and take possession of it.
¹⁰ When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!"
¹¹ So 600 men from the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
¹² They camped at a place west of Kiriath-jearim in Judah, which is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.
¹³ Then they went on from there into the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
¹⁴ The five men who had scouted out the land around Laish explained to the others, "These buildings contain a sacred ephod, as well as some household idols, a carved image, and a cast idol. What do you think you should do?"
¹⁵ Then the five men turned off the road and went over to Micah's house, where the young Levite lived, and greeted him kindly.
¹⁶ As the 600 armed warriors from the tribe of Dan stood at the entrance of the gate,
¹⁷ the five scouts entered the shrine and removed the carved image, the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the cast idol. Meanwhile, the priest was standing at the gate with the 600 armed warriors.
¹⁸ When the priest saw the men carrying all the sacred objects out of Micah's shrine, he said, "What are you doing?"
¹⁹ "Be quiet and come with us," they said. "Be a father and priest to all of us. Isn't it better to be a priest for an entire tribe and clan of Israel than for the household of just one man?"
²⁰ The young priest was quite happy to go with them, so he took along the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the carved image.
²¹ They turned and started on their way again, placing their children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.
²² When the people from the tribe of Dan were quite a distance from Micah's house, the people who lived near Micah came chasing after them.
²³ They were shouting as they caught up with them. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, "What's the matter? Why have you called these men together and chased after us like this?"
²⁴ "What do you mean, 'What's the matter?'" Micah replied. "You've taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!"
²⁵ The men of Dan said, "Watch what you say! There are some short-tempered men around here who might get angry and kill you and your family."
²⁶ So the men of Dan continued on their way. When Micah saw that there were too many of them for him to attack, he turned around and went home.
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.
²⁹ They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel's son, but it had originally been called Laish.
³⁰ Then they set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile.
³¹ So Micah's carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.