Judges 18:9

9 They said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are you still? don't be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.

Judges 18:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 18:9

And they said, arise, that me may go up against them
That is, prepare for war, and go up in an hostile manner against the present possessors of the land, not doubting of being masters of it easily:

for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good.
Adrichomius


FOOTNOTES:

F24 says it was very good pasture land, and fertile, abounding with fruits of all kinds; and the same is attested by Josephus F25:

and are ye still?
can ye sit still, and be easy, and not bestir yourselves to go up and possess so good a country, of which an easy conquest may be made? or, affirmatively, "ye are still or silent" F26; ye make no answer to what we say, and seem careless and indifferent about the matter; or by way of exhortation, "be silent", either that the people may remain in their quiet, easy, careless state, and lest, on hearing designs against them, should prepare for their defence; or, as Abarbinel, lest any of the other tribes of Israel should hear of it, and go take it before them:

be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land;
they suggest that there was scarce anything more to be done than to go and take possession, and that it would be altogether owing to their sloth and indolence if they did not.


F24 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1.)
F25 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1.)
F26 (Myvxm Mta) "vos autem desidetis", Tigurine version; "et vos quiescitis", Munster.

Judges 18:9 In-Context

7 Then the five men departed, and came to Layish, and saw the people who were therein, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Tzidonim, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything, and they were far from the Tzidonim, and had no dealings with any man.
8 They came to their brothers to Tzor`ah and Eshta'ol: and their brothers said to them, What [say] you?
9 They said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are you still? don't be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.
10 When you go, you shall come to a people secure, and the land is large; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the eretz.
11 There set forth from there of the family of the Dani, out of Tzor`ah and out of Eshta'ol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.