Judges 18:17-20

17 The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance of the gate.
18 When the five men went into Micah’s house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 They answered him, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?”
20 The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people.

Judges 18:17-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 18

This chapter relates how the Danites, being overcrowed in their inheritance, sent out spies to search the land, and see if they could find any proper place to add unto it, and enlarge it, Jud 18:1-6 who returned and reported Laish as such, and encouraged the Danites to go and possess it; for which purpose they sent six hundred men up to it, Jud 18:7-12 and as they went, called at the house of Micah, and took away his priests and his gods, Jud 18:13-27 and having taken Laish, set up Micah's graven image there, Jud 18:28-31.

Cross References 7

  • 1. S Genesis 31:19; Micah 5:13
  • 2. ver 11
  • 3. ver 24; Isaiah 46:2; Jeremiah 43:11; Jeremiah 48:7; Jeremiah 49:3; Hosea 10:5
  • 4. S Genesis 31:19
  • 5. Job 13:5; Job 21:5; Job 29:9; Job 40:4; Isaiah 52:15; Micah 7:16
  • 6. Judges 17:10
  • 7. Numbers 26:42
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