Judges 18 10

Judges 18:10 kjv

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.

Judges 18:10 nkjv

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."

Judges 18:10 niv

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."

Judges 18:10 esv

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."

Judges 18:10 nlt

When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!"

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 10 Meaning

This verse conveys the urgent and enthusiastic report of five Danite spies to their kinsmen. They describe the city of Laish as an ideal place for settlement, highlighting its exceptional fertility and the tranquility of its inhabitants. The spies challenge the Danites' present inaction and passivity, admonishing them to cease their idleness. They strongly encourage immediate and decisive action to conquer and possess this highly desirable territory, which they assure is easily obtainable.

Judges 18 10 Context

Judges chapter 18 is situated within the closing, disquieting appendices of the Book of Judges, which describe a period marked by profound spiritual and moral decline, encapsulated by the recurring phrase: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." The tribe of Dan, unable to fully secure its original inheritance in the central coastal plain against the Philistines and Amorites, embarks on a quest for new territory. Five spies are dispatched from their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol to survey potential lands. In their journey, they encounter Micah's private idolatrous shrine and consult his mercenary Levite priest concerning the success of their mission. Judges 18:10 directly recounts the spies' highly favorable report to the waiting Danites. This report motivates the ensuing, ruthless Danite migration and conquest of Laish, characterized by theft (Micah's idols and priest) and unprovoked violence against a peaceful populace. The eventual renaming of the city to "Dan" and the establishment of an enduring idolatrous center there underscores the chapter's thematic exposition of lawlessness, self-serving actions, and spiritual decay.

Judges 18 10 Word analysis

• Arise (קוּמוּ, qūmū): An imperative verb used as a command, demanding an immediate shift from inactivity to vigorous motion. It suggests preparing for a journey or a military operation, emphasizing urgency.
• and let us go up (וְנַעֲלֶה, wəna‘alêh): This is a cohortative verb form, expressing a shared decision or invitation for collective action. It typically implies ascending, often used for going up to a city for military conquest, indicating a unified, offensive movement.
• against them: This phrase identifies the target: the peaceful and unprepared inhabitants of Laish (also known as Leshem), setting the stage for an aggressive and unprovoked act of conquest.
• for we have seen the land: This provides the evidence for their recommendation, rooted in firsthand observation. It indicates a verified and convincing report, intended to motivate their tribal brethren.
• and, behold, it is very good (וְהִנֵּה טוֹבָה מְאֹד, wəhinnēh ṭôvāh mə’ōd): The emphatic phrase "very good" mirrors the divine evaluation of creation in Gen 1:31. Here, it signifies the land's abundant fertility, natural resources, and overall desirability from a human, pragmatic standpoint, presenting it as a place promising ease and prosperity.
• and are ye still? (וְאַתֶּם מַחְשִׁים, wə’attem maḥšîm): A sharp rhetorical question, rebuking the Danites for their current state of quietude, silence, or inaction. It challenges their passive waiting, urging them to shake off their complacency.
• be not slothful (אַל תֶּחְשִׁלוּ, ’al teḥšîlû): A strong negative imperative, commanding against weakness, disheartenment, or delay. It directly warns against idleness and calls for diligence and decisiveness, highlighting the potential loss if they hesitate.
• to go, and to enter to possess the land: These infinitives detail the comprehensive nature of the recommended undertaking: initiating the journey, penetrating the territory, and establishing full, permanent control and inheritance. "Possess" (לָרֶשֶׁת, larešet) implies acquiring and taking ownership of the land.

Judges 18 10 Words-group analysis

• "Arise, and let us go up against them": This potent opening constitutes a direct military exhortation. It signifies a pivotal shift in the Danites' posture from struggling to survive in their assigned territory to actively seeking and aggressively seizing new lands. It underlines their intent for decisive offensive action.
• "for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good": This powerful declarative clause serves as the compelling justification for the entire proposed venture. The "very good" description of the land functions as a potent incentive, framing the opportunity as immensely appealing and too valuable to forgo. It speaks directly to the tribe's practical needs and aspirations for a more comfortable existence than their original inheritance offered.
• "and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land": This segment blends a sharp rhetorical challenge with a series of urgent commands. It is designed to shame the quiescent Danites out of their perceived idleness and into immediate, determined action. The progression from "go" to "enter" to "possess" highlights the comprehensive and irreversible nature of the conquest desired. This reflects a human-centric approach to land acquisition, emphasizing efficiency and practical success over adherence to divine standards of justice.

Judges 18 10 Bonus section

The seemingly innocent desire for a "good land" in Judges 18:10 tragically leads to the establishment of the permanent idolatrous center at the city of Dan (Judg 18:30-31), complete with Micah's graven image and a line of priests from Jonathan, Moses' grandson, who serves the idol rather than the Lord. This cultic corruption at the northernmost point of Israel is later resurrected by King Jeroboam I, who sets up a golden calf there as an alternative worship site to Jerusalem (1 Kgs 12:28-30). Thus, the practical pursuit of land outlined in this verse initiates a long-lasting spiritual blight upon the nation, showcasing how means, devoid of righteousness, undermine divine promises and perpetuate sin through generations.

Judges 18 10 Commentary

Judges 18:10 distills the motivation behind the infamous Danite migration. The spies' report, characterized by urgency and enthusiastic portrayal of Laish's abundance, frames the upcoming conquest as an irresistible, almost effortless, opportunity. The description of the land as "very good" echoes divine pronouncements about Canaan, yet this claim for Laish is purely an expedient human assessment, detached from a covenantal understanding or a command from Yahweh. The aggressive rhetoric, rebuking slothfulness and demanding immediate possession, demonstrates a complete reliance on human agency and assessment rather than seeking divine guidance or strength. This verse exposes a significant moral erosion within Israel during the period of the Judges, where practical concerns for land and security overshadow the Law's requirements for justice, setting the stage for future disobedience and idolatry.