Judges 18 18

Judges 18:18 kjv

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?

Judges 18:18 nkjv

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?"

Judges 18:18 niv

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?"

Judges 18:18 esv

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?"

Judges 18:18 nlt

When the priest saw the men carrying all the sacred objects out of Micah's shrine, he said, "What are you doing?"

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 18 Meaning

Judges 18:18 describes the moment the five Danite spies entered Micah's house, not to steal goods, but specifically to take his idolatrous religious objects: the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image. Concurrently, the priest, a Levite whom Micah had hired, stood guard with the 600 armed Danite men at the gate, effectively preventing Micah from intervening during the theft of his cultic items. This verse highlights the audacious and calculated nature of the Danites' appropriation of false worship.

Judges 18 18 Context

Judges Chapter 18 details the Danites' quest for new territory and their subsequent encounter with Micah's personal shrine. The chapter begins with the tribe of Dan, finding their inheritance too restrictive or unable to secure it, dispatching five spies to scout for an alternative homeland. These spies encounter Micah's unauthorized cultic establishment, complete with his graven image, ephod, teraphim, molten image, and a Levite priest whom Micah has hired. Realizing the priest is a Levite, and seeing an opportunity, they bribe him to abandon Micah and become the priest for their entire tribe. This verse, Jdg 18:18, specifically describes the active appropriation of Micah's cultic objects by the five spies while the 600 armed Danite soldiers secure the area, effectively holding the priest at the gate to ensure their operation proceeds without interruption from Micah or his neighbors. It highlights the rampant lawlessness and religious syncretism characteristic of the period of the Judges, where there was no central authority, and "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6; 21:25).

Judges 18 18 Word analysis

• Now these went into the house: Refers to the five Danite spies previously sent to scout. This emphasizes the calculated and direct action they took, rather than an accidental discovery. Their entry is deliberate.
• and took (וַיִּקְחוּ - wa'yiqechu): This Hebrew verb signifies 'to take' or 'to seize'. In this context, it unequivocally denotes theft. It implies a forceful appropriation, despite the fact that Micah and the priest offered no resistance due to the presence of 600 armed men. The word's use highlights the unlawful nature of their actions, even though the objects themselves were forbidden.
• the graven image (הַפֶּסֶל - ha'pesel): A carved idol, typically made of wood or stone, perhaps overlaid with metal. This object represents a direct violation of the second commandment (Ex 20:4). Its presence signifies illicit worship and syncretism within Micah's household.
• and the ephod (וְהָאֵפוֹד - w'ha'ephod): Here, not referring to the legitimate priestly garment of the High Priest for seeking divine oracle, but an unauthorized or paganistic object. In contexts of false worship (like Gideon's ephod in Jdg 8:27), it often served as a cultic object, perhaps for divination or veneration, embodying a form of religious practice forbidden by Yahweh.
• and the teraphim (וְהַתְּרָפִים - w'ha'teraphim): Household idols, potentially serving as guardian spirits or means of divination. They sometimes appeared as human figures (1 Sam 19:13), suggesting a link to ancestor worship or personal fortune. Their inclusion indicates a blend of Israelite and pagan practices.
• and the molten image (וְהַמַּסֵּכָה - w'ha'masseka): A cast idol, made by pouring molten metal into a mold (similar to the golden calf, Ex 32:4). Its presence, alongside the graven image, suggests Micah possessed multiple forms of idols or perhaps that the graven image was adorned with the molten image, showcasing a significant investment in illicit worship.
• but the priest stood (וְהַכֹּהֵן עֹמֵד - w'ha'kohen omed): This refers to the hired Levite priest who had served Micah. "Stood" indicates his stationary position, forced by circumstance. He is essentially sidelined by the overwhelming military presence of the Danites. His passive compliance or inability to intervene underscores his compromised position and lack of true authority or integrity.
• in the entrance of the gate: This strategic location indicates he was positioned to prevent Micah or others from entering the courtyard or challenging the Danites, serving as an unwitting accomplice under duress.
• with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war (עִם־שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ הֶחֲגֻרִים כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה - `im shesh me’ot ha’ish hechagurim kley milchamah): This highlights the overwhelming military force accompanying the Danites, rendering any resistance futile. "Appointed with weapons of war" emphasizes their readiness for conflict, securing the act of theft and demonstrating the lawless "might makes right" mentality prevalent in the era of the Judges. The 600 armed men represent raw power used to achieve their desires.

Judges 18 18 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates the complete reversal of God's commands regarding holy objects and worship: instead of a Tabernacle/Temple with priests consecrated by God, a private shrine with a hired priest, unauthorized idols, and now stolen objects forming a new religious center. The strategic placement of the 600 armed men by the gate signifies a military operation masquerading as a religious transition. This is a deliberate, not desperate, act. The Danites are not seeking genuine religious guidance; they are looking for a patron deity that will justify and bless their secular endeavor of finding land, which ironically, they neglected to seek through faithful adherence to God's will. Their actions pave the way for a lasting cultic site for Dan, mentioned in Jdg 18:30-31, establishing an apostate legacy that persists "all the days that the house of God was in Shiloh" and beyond, up to the Assyrian captivity (2 Kgs 17:23).

Judges 18 18 Commentary

Judges 18:18 serves as a chilling illustration of the spiritual and moral decline during the period of the Judges. The Danites, ostensibly seeking an inheritance, embody opportunism and blatant disregard for divine law. They do not merely raid for supplies; they specifically target cultic items for their religious practices. The irony is stark: sacred objects that were already forbidden and associated with syncretism are stolen by Israelites, not destroyed as commanded by God. The episode highlights the utter breakdown of the Mosaic covenant, as Israelite tribes engage in theft and establish false worship, reminiscent of Jeroboam's sin later (1 Kgs 12). The priest's complicity, whether through fear or opportunism, further underscores the moral corruption, as even those consecrated for service fail to uphold true worship. The entire scene paints a picture of a nation without true leadership, where self-interest dictates religious practice, leading to further idolatry and spiritual depravity.