1.
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
no king: The word mailech, which generally means a king, is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler, governor, or judge - see note on Genesis 36:31, and see note on Deuteronomy 33:5, and it is probable it should be so understood here, and in the parallel passages. Judges 17:6, Judges 19:1, Judges 21:25
the tribe: Joshua 19:40-48
for unto: Judges 1:34
Reciprocal: Genesis 49:16 - General Joshua 19:47 - the coast Judges 18:28 - far from Mark 14:26 - hymn
2.
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
men: Heb. sons
Zorah: Judges 18:8, Judges 18:11, Judges 13:2, Judges 13:25, Judges 16:31, Genesis 42:9, Joshua 19:41
to spy: Numbers 13:17, Joshua 2:1, Proverbs 20:18, Luke 14:31
mount: Judges 17:1, Judges 19:1, Judges 19:18, Joshua 17:15-18
Reciprocal: Genesis 49:16 - General Judges 1:23 - sent Judges 18:13 - mount Ephraim Judges 18:17 - five men 1 Chronicles 19:3 - to search
3.
When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
they knew: They knew by his dialect or mode of pronunciation, that he was not an Ephraimite - see the parallel texts. Judges 12:6, Genesis 27:22, Matthew 26:73
and what hast: Isaiah 22:16
Reciprocal: Judges 18:13 - mount Ephraim Judges 18:14 - in these Isaiah 52:5 - what
4.
And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
hired me: Judges 17:10, Proverbs 28:21, Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 13:19, Hosea 4:8, Hosea 4:9, Malachi 1:10, John 10:12, John 10:13, Acts 8:18-21, Acts 20:33, 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15
Reciprocal: Judges 18:14 - in these 2 Samuel 20:21 - his head
5.
And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
Ask counsel: 1 Kings 22:5, 2 Kings 16:15, Isaiah 30:1, Ezekiel 21:21, Hosea 4:12, Acts 8:10
of God: Judges 18:14, Judges 17:5, Judges 17:13
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:14 - thereby Judges 17:3 - I had wholly
6.
And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
Go in peace: 1 Kings 22:6, 1 Kings 22:12, 1 Kings 22:15, Jeremiah 23:21, Jeremiah 23:22, Jeremiah 23:32
before: Deuteronomy 11:12, Psalms 33:18, 1 Thessalonians 3:11
the Lord: As the Levite uses the word Jehovah, and as the Danites succeeded according to the oracle delivered by him, some learned men are of opinion, that the worship established by Micah was not of an idolatrous kind.
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 1:17 - Go Acts 16:36 - and go
7.
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
Laish: Joshua 19:47, called Leshem
how they: Judges 18:27, Judges 18:28, Revelation 18:7
magistrate: Heb. possessor, or, heir of restraint, 1 Samuel 3:13, 1 Kings 1:6, Romans 13:3, 1 Peter 2:14
and had no: In the most correct copies of the LXX this clause stands thus; ךבי כןדןע ןץך חם בץפןיע לופב ץסיבע; "and they had no transactions with Syria;" evidently reading instead of אדם [Strong's H120], adam, man, ארם [Strong's H758], aram, Syria; words so nearly similar that the only difference between them is in the ר, raish, and ד, daleth, which in both manuscripts and printed books is sometimes indiscernible. Laish was situated on the frontiers of Syria.
Reciprocal: Judges 3:3 - Sidonians Judges 18:10 - secure Judges 21:25 - right 1 Kings 16:31 - the Zidonians 1 Chronicles 4:40 - the land Isaiah 10:30 - Laish Isaiah 47:8 - given Jeremiah 49:31 - that Ezekiel 30:9 - careless Ezekiel 38:11 - go to Ezekiel 39:6 - carelessly Amos 6:1 - to them
8.
And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
Zorah and Eshtaol: Judges 18:2, Judges 18:11, Judges 13:2, Judges 16:31
Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 19:3 - to search
9.
And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
Arise: Numbers 13:30, Numbers 14:7-9, Joshua 2:23, Joshua 2:24
are ye still: 1 Kings 22:23
be not: Joshua 18:3, 1 Samuel 4:9, 2 Samuel 10:12, John 6:27, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 6:12, 2 Peter 1:10, 2 Peter 1:11
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:10 - speak ye not a word 1 Chronicles 22:16 - Arise
10.
When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
secure: Judges 18:7, Judges 18:27
God hath: Deuteronomy 2:29, Deuteronomy 4:1, Joshua 6:16
where there: Exodus 3:8, Deuteronomy 8:7-9, Deuteronomy 11:11, Deuteronomy 11:12, Ezekiel 20:6, 1 Timothy 6:17
Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 22:16 - Arise Ecclesiastes 6:2 - so
11.
And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
appointed: Heb. girded, Judges 18:11
Reciprocal: Judges 13:25 - between Judges 18:2 - Zorah Judges 18:8 - Zorah and Eshtaol Judges 18:16 - six hundred
12.
And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjath-jearim.
Kirjathjearim: A city of Judah, on the confines of Benjamin; distant nine miles from Alia or Jerusalem, in going towards Diospolis or Lydda, according to Eusebius. Joshua 15:60, 1 Samuel 7:1, 1 Chronicles 13:5, 1 Chronicles 13:6, 2 Chronicles 1:4
Mahanehdan: Judges 13:25, *marg.
Reciprocal: Joshua 15:9 - Kirjathjearim 1 Samuel 6:21 - Kirjathjearim Nehemiah 7:29 - Kirjathjearim
13.
And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
mount Ephraim: Judges 18:2, Judges 18:3, Judges 17:1, Judges 19:1, Joshua 24:30, Joshua 24:33
14.
Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
Then: 1 Samuel 14:28
in these: Judges 18:3, Judges 18:4, Judges 17:5
now therefore: Proverbs 19:27, Isaiah 8:19, Isaiah 8:20
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:19 - images Joshua 2:1 - to spy secretly Judges 8:27 - an ephod Judges 18:5 - of God Judges 18:17 - five men 1 Samuel 19:13 - an image Job 3:2 - spake Ezekiel 21:21 - images Zechariah 10:2 - the idols
15.
And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.
saluted him: Heb. asked him of peace, Genesis 37:14, Genesis 43:27, 1 Samuel 17:22, *marg. 2 Kings 4:26, Matthew 10:12, Matthew 10:13, Luke 10:4-6, John 14:27
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 10:4 - salute thee Jeremiah 15:5 - how thou doest
16.
And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
six hundred: Judges 18:11
17.
And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
five men: Judges 18:2, Judges 18:14
the graven: Judges 6:31, Judges 17:4, Judges 17:5, Exodus 32:20, 1 Samuel 4:11, 1 Samuel 6:2-9, 2 Kings 19:18, 2 Kings 19:19, Isaiah 46:1, Isaiah 46:2, Isaiah 46:7
Reciprocal: Joshua 2:1 - to spy secretly Judges 8:27 - an ephod 1 Samuel 19:13 - an image 2 Kings 23:24 - images Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith Hosea 3:4 - without teraphim
18.
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?
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 23:24 - images Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith Isaiah 46:2 - but Ezekiel 21:21 - images
19.
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
lay thine: This was the token of silence. These men were evidently very ignorant; and absurdly concluded that they should, by taking Micah's gods, secure the presence and favour of the God of Israel, in their expedition and settlement. They perhaps supposed the piety of their motives, and the goodness of their end, would justify the means. But it was a base robbery of Micah, aggravated by the Levite's ingratitude, and their menaces. Job 21:5, Job 29:9, Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Proverbs 30:32, Micah 7:16
a father: Judges 17:10, 2 Kings 6:21, 2 Kings 8:8, 2 Kings 8:9, 2 Kings 13:14, Matthew 23:9
Reciprocal: Matthew 26:15 - What 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love
20.
And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
heart: Judges 17:10, Proverbs 30:15, Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 13:19, Hosea 4:3, Acts 20:33, Philippians 3:19, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:15, 2 Peter 2:16
went: He was glad of his preferment among the Danites; and went into the crowd, that he might not be discovered by Micah or his family.
Reciprocal: Judges 16:25 - their hearts Ezekiel 21:21 - images Matthew 26:15 - What 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love
21.
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
and put: These men were so confident of success, that they removed their whole families, household goods, cattle, and all.
the carriage: Kevoodah, from kavad, to be heavy, denotes the luggage or baggage. Judges 18:21
Reciprocal: Joshua 21:31 - Rehob
22.
And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
Reciprocal: Genesis 49:17 - shall be
23.
And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
What aileth: Genesis 21:17, 1 Samuel 11:5, 2 Samuel 14:5, 2 Kings 6:28, Psalms 114:5, Isaiah 22:1
comest: Heb. art gathered together
Reciprocal: Matthew 19:22 - he went Luke 18:23 - he was very sorrowful Revelation 18:15 - shall
24.
And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
what have: Judges 17:13, Psalms 115:8, Isaiah 44:18-20, Jeremiah 50:38, Jeremiah 51:17, Ezekiel 23:5, Habakkuk 2:18, Habakkuk 2:19, Acts 19:26, Revelation 17:2
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:30 - my gods Genesis 40:7 - Wherefore Judges 17:5 - an house of gods Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith Isaiah 44:13 - that it may Isaiah 46:2 - but Ezekiel 21:21 - images Daniel 11:8 - their gods Hosea 10:5 - for the people Matthew 19:22 - he went Luke 18:23 - he was very sorrowful Revelation 18:15 - shall
25.
And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
angry: Heb. bitter of soul, 1 Samuel 30:6, 2 Samuel 17:8, Job 3:5, Job 27:2, *marg.
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 2:16 - I will take 1 Samuel 22:2 - discontented
26.
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.
Reciprocal: Ezekiel 48:1 - Dan
27.
And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
Laish: Judges 18:7, Judges 18:10
they smote: Deuteronomy 33:22, Joshua 19:47
burnt: Joshua 11:11
Reciprocal: Judges 8:11 - secure Isaiah 47:8 - given Jeremiah 49:31 - that Ezekiel 38:11 - go to 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - Peace
28.
And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
And there: 2 Samuel 14:6, *marg. Psalms 7:2, Psalms 50:22, Daniel 3:15-17
far from: Probably the people of Laish were originally a colony of the Zidonians; who being an opulent people, and in possession of a strong city, lived in a state of security, not being afraid of their neighbours. In this the Leshemites imitated them, though they appear not to have had the same reason for their confidence; and though they might naturally expect help from their countrymen, yet as they lived at a considerable distance from Sidon, the Danites saw they could strike the blow before the news of the invasion could reach that city. Judges 18:1, Judges 18:7, Joshua 11:8, Isaiah 23:4, Isaiah 23:12
Bethrehob: Numbers 13:21, Rehob, 2 Samuel 10:6
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 24:6 - Zidon 2 Chronicles 16:4 - Dan Jeremiah 49:31 - which dwell 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - Peace
29.
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
Dan: Judges 20:1, Genesis 14:14, Joshua 19:47, 2 Samuel 17:11, 1 Kings 12:29, 1 Kings 12:30, 1 Kings 15:20
who was: Genesis 30:6, Genesis 32:28, Laish, or Dan, was situated at the northern extremity of the land of Canaan, in a beautiful and fertile plain, at the foot of mount Lebanon, on the springs of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, four miles from Cesarea Philippi, or Paneas, now Banias - with which some have confounded it towards Tyre. Burckhardt says, that the source of the river El Dhan, or Jordan, is at an hour's distance from Banias, which agrees with Eusebius.
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 34:1 - Dan 2 Samuel 24:6 - land of Tahtimhodshi 2 Chronicles 16:4 - Dan Isaiah 10:30 - Laish Jeremiah 4:15 - a voice Jeremiah 8:16 - was heard Ezekiel 27:19 - Dan 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love
30.
And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
set up: Exodus 20:4, Leviticus 26:1, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, Deuteronomy 27:15, Deuteronomy 31:16, Deuteronomy 31:29, Joshua 19:40-48, Psalms 78:58-61, God had graciously performed his promise, in putting these Danites in possession of that which fell to their lot, obliging them thereby to be faithful to him who had been so to them; they inherited the labour of the people, that they might observe his statues. Psalms 105:44, Psalms 105:45. But the first thing they do after they are settled is to break his laws, by setting up the graven image, attributing their success to that idol, which, if God had not been infinitely patient, would have been their ruin. Thus a prosperous idolater goes on to offend, imputing this his power unto his God. Instead of Manasseh, some would read Moses; as it is found in some manuscripts, in the Vulgate and in the concessions of the most intelligent Jews. But Bp. Patrick takes this to be an idle conceit of the Rabbins, and supposes this Jonathan to be of some other family of the Levites. Yet Kimchi acknowledges, that the Jews, deeply concerned for the honour of their lawgiver, to whom they thought it would be a great dishonour to have a grandson who was an idolater, suspended the letter, נ, noon, over the word מש [Strong's H4872], [Strong's H4873], Moses, thus מנשה [Strong's H4519], as it is found in the Hebrew Bibles; which, by means of the points, they have changed into Manasseh.
until: Judges 13:1; 1 Samuel 4:2-3, 1 Samuel 4:10-11; Psalms 78:60-62
the land: Houbigant contends, that, instead of haaretz, "the land," we should read haaron, "the ark;" for the ו, wav, and ן, noon final, might easily be mistaken for ץ, tzadday final; which is the only difference between the two words. This conjecture is the more likely, as the next verse tells us, that Micah's graven image continued at Dan "all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh;" which was till the ark was taken by the Philistines.
Reciprocal: Judges 17:12 - his priest Psalms 78:61 - his strength
31.
And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
all the time: Judges 19:18, Judges 21:21, Joshua 18:1, 1 Samuel 1:3, 1 Samuel 4:4, Jeremiah 7:12
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:19 - images Judges 20:18 - house of Acts 7:45 - Which