Judges 18

The Danites Search for Land

1In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of Dan was seeking territory of its own to settle, for up to that time no inheritance had fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. 2So the Danites sent five men from their clan, capable men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout out the land and explore it. They told them, “Go, explore the land.” They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and spent the night there. 3While they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. So they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?” 4He told them what Micah had done for him. “He has hired me,” he said, “and I am his priest.” 5Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God for us, so we may know whether the journey we are taking will succeed.” 6The priest said to them, “Go in peace. Yahweh is watching over your journey.” 7So the five men went on and came to Laish. They saw that the people there lived securely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing on earth, and with no authority to shame them for anything. They were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. 8When they returned to their kinsmen at Zorah and Eshtaol, their kinsmen asked, “What did you find?” 9They answered, “Come, let’s go up against them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Why do you hesitate? Don’t be slow to go and take possession of the land. 10When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land — God has given it into your hands, a place lacking nothing on earth.” 11So six hundred men of the Danite clan, armed for war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is called the Camp of Dan to this day. 13From there they passed on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

The Danites Take Micah’s Idols

14Then the five men who had gone to scout out the land of Laish said to their kinsmen, “Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a cast idol? Now decide what you want to do.” 15So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite, at Micah’s house, and greeted him. 16The six hundred Danites, armed for war, stood at the entrance of the gate. 17The five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered, taking the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men. 18When these men went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19They said to him, “Be quiet. Put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better for you to be priest to a whole tribe and clan in Israel than to the household of one man?” 20The priest was glad. He took the ephod, the household gods, and the carved image, and went along with the people. 21Then they turned and departed, putting the children, the livestock, and their possessions in front of them. 22When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men in the houses near Micah’s were called out, and they caught up with the Danites. 23As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you, that you have called out your men?” 24He said, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What do I have left? How can you ask me, ‘What’s the matter with you?’” 25The Danites said to him, “Don’t argue with us, or some hot-tempered men might attack you, and you and your household could lose your lives.” 26So the Danites went on their way, and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned around and went back home.

The Danites Conquer Laish

27Taking what Micah had made, along with his priest, the Danites came against Laish, against a people quiet and unsuspecting. They struck them down with the sword and burned down their city. 28There was no one to rescue them, because the city was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley near Beth-rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled in it. 29They named it Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel — though the city used to be called Laish. 30There the Danites set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day the land went into exile. 31They kept Micah’s carved image set up for themselves the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.