Judges 18 12

Judges 18:12 kjv

And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

Judges 18:12 nkjv

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.)

Judges 18:12 niv

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.

Judges 18:12 esv

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.

Judges 18:12 nlt

They camped at a place west of Kiriath-jearim in Judah, which is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 12 Meaning

Judges 18:12 describes a pivotal stop made by the 600 armed men of the tribe of Dan as they journeyed northward from their original, unpossessed tribal inheritance. They set up camp in Kiriath-jearim, a prominent city located within the territory of Judah. This encampment event led to the specific site being named "Mahaneh-dan," meaning "Camp of Dan," a name that persisted "to this day" (referring to the time of the book's writing). The verse pinpoints the location precisely as "behind Kiriath-jearim." This journey ultimately leads the Danites to establish a new, albeit spiritually compromised, home far north in Laish.

Judges 18 12 Context

Judges 18 belongs to the "appendix" section of the Book of Judges (chapters 17-21), which illustrates the profound moral and spiritual deterioration in Israel during the period when "there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Specifically, chapter 18 details the migration of the tribe of Dan. Due to their failure to dispossess the Amorites from their divinely allotted territory (Jdg 1:34), the Danites sought a new homeland (Jdg 18:1). This verse marks a specific geographical point on their journey.

The chapter opens with five Danite spies seeking new territory. On their way, they stop at the house of Micah in the Ephraimite hill country, discovering an idolatrous cult, complete with a Levite priest. Encouraged by the Levite's divination that their mission would be successful (Jdg 18:5-6), the spies continue northward and find Laish, a prosperous and unsuspecting city far from external threats. Verse 12 describes the main body of the Danite migration—600 armed men along with their families—making an intermediate stop en route to conquering Laish. Their encampment in the territory of Judah, specifically near Kiriath-jearim, indicates they traversed significant tribal lands before reaching their distant northern destination. This temporary halt underscores their deliberate journey and preparations, which ultimately culminates in the violent capture of Laish and the establishment of an idolatrous religious center there, further highlighting the lawlessness of the era.

Judges 18 12 Word analysis

• And they went up (וַיַּעֲלוּ - wayya‘alu): From the verb עָלָה (alah), meaning "to go up," "ascend." This indicates movement, typically from a lower elevation to a higher one, or more broadly, movement toward a more central or significant location. Here, it likely implies movement northward from their initial coastal plain allocation and generally uphill into the central hill country of Judah.
• and camped (וַיַּחֲנוּ - wayyahnu): From the verb חָנָה (chanah), meaning "to encamp," "pitch tents," "make a temporary stop." It suggests a military-style encampment, fitting for 600 armed men, preparing for further movement or engagement.
• in Kiriath-jearim (בְּקִרְיַת יְעָרִים - bi-Qiryat Ye‘arim): A prominent Gibeonite city (Josh 9:17) that fell within the tribal territory of Judah (Josh 15:9, 15:60). The name means "City of Forests/Woods." Its location in Judah's established territory signifies the Danites' journey through settled parts of Israel. Kiriath-jearim would later gain fame as the temporary resting place of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Sam 7:1-2).
• in Judah (בִּיהוּדָה - bi-Yehudah): Specifies the tribal land where Kiriath-jearim is located. This emphasizes that the Danites are moving through the territory of one of Israel's largest and most prominent tribes, highlighting their displacement from their own allocated land.
• Therefore (עַל־כֵּן - ‘al-ken): A transitional phrase, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship, introducing the reason for the naming of the place.
• they call (קָרְאוּ - qare’u): From the verb קָרָא (qara’), meaning "to call," "name." It implies that this place name was established and widely known.
• that place (לַמָּקוֹם - lam-maqom): Refers to the specific physical site of the encampment.
• Mahaneh-dan (מַחֲנֵה־דָן - Maḥaneh-Dan): Means "Camp of Dan." This name memorializes the event of the Danite encampment there. It is a descriptive name that suggests a notable gathering place for the tribe of Dan, similar to the "Mahaneh-dan" mentioned in Judges 13:25 where Samson's spirit first stirred, though geographically distinct.
• to this day (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - ‘ad hay-yom haz-zeh): A common literary device in the historical books of the Old Testament (e.g., Jdg 1:26; Josh 4:9; 7:26). It validates the narrative by indicating that the place name was still in use when the book of Judges was compiled, connecting the historical event to the contemporary audience.
• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An emphatic particle used to draw attention to what follows, emphasizing the clarity or precision of the locational detail.
• it is behind (אַחֲרֵי - ’aḥareh): Means "behind," "after," or "to the west of." This further clarifies the exact location of Mahaneh-dan in relation to Kiriath-jearim, offering specific geographical information.
• Kiriath-jearim (קִרְיַת יְעָרִים - Qiryat Ye‘arim): Repetition of the place name, reaffirming its importance and the specificity of the location.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "went up and camped in Kiriath-jearim": This phrase encapsulates the decisive nature of the Danite movement. They aren't simply passing through; they are setting up a significant, though temporary, base. The choice of Kiriath-jearim in Judah reflects a movement into a more secure, settled Israelite area from their less secure, coastal lowland inheritance.
• "they call that place Mahaneh-dan to this day": This segment highlights the lasting impact of this transient event. The naming underscores its historical significance within tribal memory. The "to this day" formula suggests the chronicler's intent to convey enduring tradition and local identification.
• "Behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim": This specific directional note not only provides geographical precision but also serves as an affirmation, urging the reader to recognize or recall this particular location, emphasizing its physical reality and the Danites' clear route.

Judges 18 12 Bonus section

The existence of two locations called "Mahaneh-dan" in the book of Judges (Jdg 13:25 and Jdg 18:12) suggests either that "Mahaneh-dan" was a general descriptive term for a Danite encampment rather than a singular, unique place, or that the tribal movement for survival involved multiple significant, remembered temporary settlements. This specific "Mahaneh-dan" near Kiriath-jearim positions the bulk of the Danite force remarkably far south and west in Judah's territory relative to their final northern destination of Laish/Dan. This indicates the Danite expedition undertaken by 600 armed men was a substantial and deliberate military migration traversing much of central Israel. The reference to Kiriath-jearim also implicitly connects this period of Judges to later historical events, as Kiriath-jearim would later become famous as the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant for many years before its move to Jerusalem, further cementing its historical significance in the narrative of Israel.

Judges 18 12 Commentary

Judges 18:12, though seemingly a simple geographic detail in the narrative of the Danite migration, is rich with subtle significance. It marks a physical milestone in Dan's desperate search for a homeland, driven by their failure to secure their initial inheritance in the south (Jdg 1:34). By camping near Kiriath-jearim in Judah, a strong and established tribal territory, the Danites contrast their own unsettled and precarious existence with the relative stability of Judah.

This verse foreshadows the spiritual decline inherent in their journey. Their displacement is a symptom of a larger national malaise—the abandonment of covenant obligations. The journey itself, from an unpossessed land through central Israel, is not for seeking spiritual revival or conforming to God's will, but rather to secure a new territory by their own means. This act of self-reliance ultimately culminates in the blatant idolatry and unauthorized priesthood they establish at Laish (renamed Dan), creating a center of religious deviancy that stands in direct opposition to God's appointed place of worship in Shiloh. The name "Mahaneh-dan" serves as a memorial to this fateful stopping point, encapsulating the spirit of tribal autonomy and moral compromise that defines the Judges period where "every man did what was right in his own eyes."

Practical examples:

• Sometimes, our solutions to problems arising from past disobedience can lead us further away from God's perfect plan, similar to how Dan's seeking a new land eventually led to idolatry.
• The "to this day" marker reminds us that seemingly small historical events or choices, both individual and collective, can have lasting and memorable consequences.