---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Judges 18"
description: "CHAPTER 18   :-. THE DANITES
SEEK OUT
AN INHERITANCE. 1-6. In those days . . . the Danites
sought them an inheritance to dwell in—The Danites had a
territ"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/judges/18"
---

CHAPTER 18

. THE DANITES
SEEK OUT
AN INHERITANCE.

**1-6. In those days . . . the Danites
sought them an inheritance to dwell in**—The Danites had a
territory assigned them as well as the other tribes. But either
through indolence, or a lack of energy, they did not acquire the full
possession of their allotment, but suffered a considerable portion of
it to be wrested out of their hands by the encroachments of their
powerful neighbors, the Philistines. In consequence, being straitened
for room, a considerable number resolved on trying to effect a new
and additional settlement in a remote part of the land. A small
deputation, being despatched to reconnoitre the country, arrived on
their progress northward at the residence of Micah. Recognizing his
priest as one of their former acquaintances, or perhaps by his
provincial dialect, they eagerly enlisted his services in
ascertaining the result of their present expedition. His answer,
though apparently promising, was delusive, and really as ambiguous as
those of the heathen oracles. This application brings out still more
clearly and fully than the schism of Micah the woeful degeneracy of
the times. The Danites expressed no emotions either of surprise or of
indignation at a Levite daring to assume the priestly functions, and
at the existence of a rival establishment to that of Shiloh. They
were ready to seek, through means of the teraphim, the information
that could only be lawfully applied for through the high priest's
Urim. Being thus equally erroneous in their views and habits as
Micah, they show the low state of religion, and how much superstition
prevailed in all parts of the land.

**7-10. the five men departed, and
came to Laish**—or, "Leshem" (), supposed to have been peopled by a colony of Zidonians.
The place was very secluded—the soil rich in the abundance and
variety of its produce, and the inhabitants, following the peaceful
pursuits of agriculture, lived in their fertile and sequestered
valley, according to the Zidonian style of ease and security, happy
among themselves, and maintaining little or no communication with the
rest of the world. The discovery of this northern paradise seemed, to
the delight of the Danite spies, an accomplishment of the priest's
prediction. They hastened back to inform their brethren in the south
both of the value of their prize, and how easily it could be made
their prey.

**11-21. there went from thence of the
family of the Danites . . . six hundred men**—This was the
collective number of the men who were equipped with arms to carry out
this expeditionary enterprise, without including the families and
furniture of the emigrants (). Their journey led them through the territory of Judah,
and their first halting place was "behind," that is, on the
west of Kirjath-jearim, on a spot called afterwards "the camp of
Dan." Prosecuting the northern route, they skirted the base of
the Ephraimite hills. On approaching the neighborhood of Micah's
residence, the spies having given information that a private
sanctuary was kept there, the priest of which had rendered them
important service when on their exploring expedition, it was
unanimously agreed that both he and the furniture of the
establishment would be a valuable acquisition to their proposed
settlement. A plan of spoliation was immediately formed. While the
armed men stood sentinels at the gates, the five spies broke into the
chapel, pillaged the images and vestments, and succeeded in bribing
the priest also by a tempting offer to transfer his services to their
new colony. Taking charge of the ephod, the teraphim, and the graven
image, he "went in the midst of the people"—a central
position assigned him in the march, perhaps for his personal
security; but more probably in imitation of the place appointed for
the priests and the ark, in the middle of the congregated tribes, on
the marches through the wilderness. This theft presents a curious
medley of low morality and strong religious feeling. The Danites
exemplified a deep-seated principle of our nature—that men have
religious affections, which must have an object on which these may be
exercised, while they are often not very discriminating in the choice
of the objects. In proportion to the slender influence religion
wields over the heart, the greater is the importance attached to
external rites; and in the exact observance of these, the conscience
is fully satisfied, and seldom or never molested by reflections on
the breach of minor morals.

**22-26. the men that were in the
houses near to Micah's house were gathered together**—The robbers
of the chapel being soon detected, a hot pursuit was forthwith
commenced by Micah, at the head of a considerable body of followers.
The readiness with which they joined in the attempt to recover the
stolen articles affords a presumption that the advantages of the
chapel had been open to all in the neighborhood; and the importance
which Micah, like Laban, attached to his teraphim, is seen by the
urgency with which he pursued the thieves, and the risk of his life
in attempting to procure their restoration. Finding his party,
however, not a match for the Danites, he thought it prudent to
desist, well knowing the rule which was then prevalent in the land,
that
"They should take
who had the power,
And they should keep who
could."

. THEY WIN
LAISH.

**27. they . . . came unto Laish . . .
smote them**—the inhabitants.
**and burnt the city**—"We
are revolted by this inroad and massacre of a quiet and secure
people. Nevertheless, if the original grant of Canaan to the
Israelites gave them the warrant of a divine commission and command
for this enterprise, that sanctifies all and legalizes all"
[CHALMERS]. This place
seems to have been a dependency of Zidon, the distance of which,
however, rendered it impossible to obtain aid thence in the sudden
emergency.

**28, 29. they built a city, and . . .
call the name of that city Dan**—It was in the northern extremity
of the land, and hence the origin of the phrase, "from Dan to
Beer-sheba."
[Judges 18:30](../../../kjv/judges/18/30);
[Judges 18:31](../../../kjv/judges/18/31). THEY
SET UP
IDOLATRY.

**30, 31. the children of Dan set up
the graven image**—Their distance secluded them from the rest of
the Israelites, and doubtless this, which was their apology for not
going to Shiloh, was the cause of perpetuating idolatry among them
for many generations.

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