Judges 18 26

Judges 18:26 kjv

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.

Judges 18:26 nkjv

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.

Judges 18:26 niv

So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home.

Judges 18:26 esv

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.

Judges 18:26 nlt

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.

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 26 Meaning

Judges 18:26 describes Micah's retreat from the Danites after realizing their overwhelming numerical and physical superiority. He ceased his futile attempt to reclaim his stolen idols and his coerced priest, conceding defeat to the armed tribe, and returned to his desolate home. The verse starkly illustrates that in the chaotic period of the Judges, justice often succumbed to brute force.

Judges 18 26 Context

The book of Judges recounts a tumultuous period in Israelite history marked by recurring cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, reflecting the absence of a central authority ("no king in Israel") and widespread spiritual compromise. Chapters 17 and 18, forming a scandalous appendix, vividly illustrate this moral decline. The tribe of Dan, unable to secure their original tribal allotment against the Amorites, sought a new territory. Their scouts encountered Micah's illicit private shrine, equipped with unauthorized cultic images and a Levite priest. The Danite war band, consisting of 600 armed men, brazenly stole Micah's religious objects and persuaded his priest to abandon Micah for them, promising greater influence. Micah, rallying his neighbors, pursued them, only to be verbally warned by the Danites against challenging their overwhelming force. Judges 18:26 records Micah's recognition of their superior power, leading to his ignominious retreat and highlighting the breakdown of law, justice, and the very concept of tribal solidarity in favor of might.

Judges 18 26 Word analysis

• "So" (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayyelĕkhū): This Hebrew waw consecutive with the imperfect verb "they went" functions as a narrative connector, indicating a direct consequence or continuation. It highlights the unimpeded progression of the Danites.
• "the Danites" (בְּנֵי־דָן, bəney-Dān): Literally "sons of Dan." This plural emphasizes the collective, tribal identity responsible for the actions, underscoring that this was a tribal initiative reflecting its corporate character and departure from covenant principles.
• "went their way" (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayyelĕkhū): A reiteration of the initial verb, reinforcing the unhindered movement of the Danites. It signifies their resolute departure with their ill-gotten gains.
• "And when Micah saw" (וַיַּרְא מִיכָה, vayyarʾ Mīḵâ): Vayyarʾ means "and he saw" or "and he perceived." This verb emphasizes Micah's direct, rational observation and realization of the overwhelming situation. He understood the practical futility of further pursuit.
• "that they were too strong for him" (כִּי־חֲזָקִים הֵם מִמֶּנּוּ, kī-ḥăzāqīm hēm mimmennû):
  • ḥăzāqīm (חֲזָקִים): This adjective signifies "strong," "mighty," or "powerful." It indicates a decisive superiority in terms of force or military capability. The Danites had overwhelming physical advantage.
  • mimmennû (מִמֶּנּוּ): This comparative preposition translates to "than him," clearly stating that their strength surpassed Micah's.
  • This phrase is pivotal, explaining the motive behind Micah's surrender: a pragmatic assessment that overwhelming might makes resistance pointless.
• "he turned and went back" (וַיָּשָׁב וַיֵּלֶךְ, vayyāšāḇ vayyāleḵ):
  • vayyāšāḇ (וַיָּשָׁב): "and he returned/turned back." This denotes a reversal of his course, signaling his abandonment of the chase.
  • vayyāleḵ (וַיֵּלֶךְ*): "and he went." This follow-up verb further stresses the act of returning, marking a clear and final withdrawal.
• "to his house" (לְבֵיתוֹ, ləḇêṯô): Signifies his literal destination. However, it also metaphorically points to the return to his desolate situation, his personal sanctuary now spiritually plundered and void of his idols and priest, highlighting his personal loss and the emptiness of his self-made religion.

Judges 18 26 Word-groups analysis

• "So the Danites went their way": This opening establishes the undeniable progress and success of the Danites in their illicit expedition. It contrasts their unhindered advancement with the forced retreat of Micah, emphasizing their dominant position from the outset.
• "And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him": This clause provides the explicit reason for Micah's cessation of pursuit. It underlines the crude reality of the Judges period, where the stronger party simply dictated terms. Micah’s recognition of their ḥăzāqīm (overwhelming strength) leaves no room for appeals to justice or property rights, only pragmatism.
• "he turned and went back to his house": This final action marks Micah's utter defeat and surrender. His physical return "to his house" symbolizes a return to desolation. It reflects the failure of his personal, syncretistic religion to protect itself and its devotee, underscoring its emptiness when faced with genuine power dynamics outside of God's covenant.

Judges 18 26 Bonus section

• Empty Zeal: Micah's deep sorrow and fervent pursuit of his stolen gods (Judg 18:24) reveals the misplaced zeal of a heart disconnected from true worship. His "gods" offer him no protection or help in his moment of need, highlighting the futility of idolatry (Ps 115:4-7).
• The Power of Perception: Micah's seeing that the Danites were too strong for him is crucial. His assessment is not based on faith or divine intervention, but purely on human calculation of power. This pragmatic realism speaks volumes about the prevailing mindset of the era.
• Foreshadowing Dan's Fate: The unpunished transgression of the Danites in this chapter sets the stage for the tribe's long history of idolatry and eventual decline. Their failure to inherit their proper land and their violent, self-serving actions establish a pattern of spiritual deviance. This may be one reason why the tribe of Dan is notably absent from the tribes sealed in Revelation 7.
• Absence of God's Voice: The narrative, and particularly this verse, is devoid of any direct divine commentary or intervention. This reflects a period when God seemed to allow Israel to reap the natural consequences of their apostasy and lawlessness, a painful demonstration of humanity left to its own devices.

Judges 18 26 Commentary

Judges 18:26 offers a poignant glimpse into the moral and spiritual anarchy of Israel during the Judges period. It depicts a microcosm of the larger societal breakdown, where human strength trumps divine law and righteous conduct. Micah's religion, founded on personal will and syncretism rather than God's covenant, proves powerless against physical might. The Danites, embodying tribal self-interest and lawlessness, exemplify the "every man did what was right in his own eyes" ethos by blatantly violating the commandments against theft, covetousness, and idolatry. Micah's pragmatic decision to retreat underscores the era's spiritual bankruptcy; without a functioning central authority rooted in God's Law, disputes were resolved not by justice, but by sheer force. The tragic outcome for Micah, stripped of his idols, serves as a harsh indictment of misplaced devotion and reliance on human-made constructs rather than the Sovereign Lord, whose power truly knows no bounds and whose justice will ultimately prevail.