Judges 18 21

Judges 18:21 kjv

So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

Judges 18:21 nkjv

Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.

Judges 18:21 niv

Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.

Judges 18:21 esv

So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them.

Judges 18:21 nlt

They turned and started on their way again, placing their children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 21 Meaning

Judges 18:21 describes the Danite migration after they have forcibly acquired Micah's cultic objects and priest. They strategically position their most vulnerable assets—their young children, livestock, and recently acquired "valuables" (referring primarily to the stolen cultic items like the idol, ephod, and teraphim, but also potentially other goods)—at the front of their procession. This arrangement signifies a protective measure, placing the precious and vulnerable elements of their new settlement at the forefront, under observation, as they proceed with their journey toward conquering Laish. It highlights their pragmatic and self-serving nature, prioritizing their security and their stolen spiritual legitimacy above all else, underscoring the spiritual and moral decline prevalent in Israel during this era.

Judges 18 21 Context

Judges chapter 18 details the tribe of Dan's search for new territory. They send out five scouts who come across Micah's house, where they recognize a young Levite functioning as a private priest for Micah's personal cult (idols, ephod, teraphim). The scouts later identify Laish as a suitable, undefended place for conquest. When the Danite army sets out, they return to Micah's house, seize his cultic objects, and persuade his priest to join them, offering him a higher status as a tribal priest. Verse 21 occurs immediately after this act of religious theft and seduction, as the Danite military procession departs from Micah's home with their new priest and cultic articles, now deemed "valuables." The broader context of Judges is one of moral and spiritual decay, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25), demonstrating a profound lack of adherence to God's law and a descent into idolatry and tribal anarchy, paving the way for the internal strife and national disunity to be found later in Israel's history. Historically, it reflects a period after the initial conquest where tribes were consolidating their lands, sometimes through violent means, often disconnected from central authority or divine guidance. The polemic here is against human-made religion and self-serving spiritual practices. The Danites prioritize stolen items, which they believe will bring them success, over genuine worship of Yahweh. This self-established cult of Dan is a perversion of true worship, setting up a rival religious center that persists until the exile.

Judges 18 21 Word analysis

• So they turned (וַיִּפְנוּ, wayyip̄nû): From the root פָּנָה (panah), meaning "to turn, to face, to turn around." This signifies a deliberate shift in direction and attention, moving away from Micah's house and towards their destination, Laish. It highlights the conclusion of their interaction with Micah and their strategic transition to the next phase of their journey.
• and departed (וַיֵּלְכוּ, wayyēlḵû): From the common verb הָלַךְ (halakh), "to go, to walk." This term denotes movement, progression, and the act of beginning their onward journey. Together with "turned," it emphasizes the swiftness and determination of their actions after acquiring what they desired.
• and put (וַיָּשִׂימוּ, wayyāśîmû): From the root שׂוּם (sum), "to put, place, set, lay." This verb indicates intentional positioning or arrangement. It suggests a deliberate organizational act by the Danites, rather than simply letting things fall into place.
• the little ones (הַטַּף, haṭṭap̄): This term refers to infants, small children, or the young, often a collective noun for a vulnerable segment of a migrating or warring community. In ancient Near Eastern context, their survival was crucial for the continuation of the lineage and tribe. Their placement was a matter of protection and responsibility. The concept of "little ones" (Deut 29:11, Num 31:17) emphasizes vulnerability and the future of the people.
• and the livestock (וְהַמִּקְנֶה, wəhammiqneh): Refers to herds, flocks, or general movable property, especially domestic animals like cattle, sheep, and goats. Livestock was vital for sustenance, wealth, and transport in ancient Israel. Protecting them was essential for survival and prosperity in a new settlement. They are valuable assets requiring protection.
• and the valuables (וְהַכֵּלִים, wəhakelîm): The Hebrew word kelîm is broad, meaning "vessels, articles, equipment, instruments, goods." In this context, coming immediately after the theft from Micah, it primarily refers to the stolen cultic items: the carved image, ephod, teraphim, and melted image mentioned earlier in the chapter (Jdg 18:17). The Danites treated these pagan cultic objects as valuable possessions, alongside their children and livestock, highlighting their misplacement of spiritual value. It can also encompass any other movable goods they deemed important for their journey or future settlement. The usage of "valuables" here implies their perceived worth for tribal legitimacy and religious assurance.
• in front of them (לִפְנֵיהֶם, lip̄nêhem): Literally "to their face," or "before them." This spatial positioning is significant. Placing children, livestock, and "valuables" at the head of the procession could mean several things:
  • Protection: To keep them close and protected from rear attack or ambush.
  • Control/Visibility: To easily manage and watch over them.
  • Symbolic Importance: Putting the most precious aspects of their new venture—their future generation, their means of livelihood, and their newly adopted spiritual assurance—at the forefront, reflecting their priorities for the coming conquest and settlement. This positioning ensured maximum control and immediate defense, though in context of Laish, the victims were largely unsuspecting.

Judges 18 21 Bonus section

The establishment of the cult at Dan, beginning with the actions in this chapter, stands as a foundational event for later spiritual corruption in Israel. The idol and the Levitical priesthood taken from Micah later become enshrined in the northern kingdom's idolatry, specifically after the division of the kingdom, when Jeroboam sets up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (1 Kgs 12:28-29). The Danites' self-interest in forming this illicit cult reflects a deep societal and religious erosion that prepared the way for the prophetic critiques against syncretism and idolatry in the books of Hosea and Amos, particularly concerning the northern kingdom. The Levite, whose greed for status (moving from private to tribal priest) motivated him, serves as a grim example of spiritual compromise and the decay of religious leadership during the period of the Judges. This verse, though seemingly descriptive of logistics, is laden with implications of moral decline, idolatry, and the pragmatic corruption of true faith for earthly gain and security, foreshadowing Israel's future struggles.

Judges 18 21 Commentary

Judges 18:21 vividly captures the Danites' pragmatism and their distorted moral compass during Israel's period of spiritual decline. Their careful arrangement of "the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them" speaks volumes. This act, while outwardly appearing responsible in protecting their most vulnerable and precious assets, is fundamentally rooted in their recently executed acts of theft and covetousness. The "valuables" here are not legitimate spoils but stolen religious artifacts (an idol, an ephod, teraphim) which they wrongly believed would bring them divine favor or success in their conquest of Laish. This underscores the prevalent spiritual anarchy of the time ("everyone did what was right in his own eyes"), where the true worship of Yahweh was replaced by convenient, self-serving idolatry. The verse succinctly portrays a tribe on the move, prioritizing worldly security and perceived spiritual advantage gained through sin, rather than trusting in the Lord their God as they inherited the land.