Judges 18:28

28 There was no deliverer, because it [was] far from Sidon, and {they had had no dealings with anyone}. It [was] in the valley that belonged to Beth-rehob, and they rebuilt the city and lived in it.

Judges 18:28 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 18:28

And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon,
&c.] Under whose government and protection they seem to have been; and that city being at a distance from them, and the Danites coming upon them suddenly, there was no time to send to them for help, or any to come in to their assistance, and save them from their enemies, see ( Judges 18:7 )

and they had no business with any man;
that could have given them notice of the design of the children of Dan against them, nor to the Zidonians to come soon enough for their protection and defence; none there were in alliance with them except them:

and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob;
which lay in the northern border of the land of Canaan, as you go to Hamath of Syria, (See Gill on Numbers 13:21).

and they built a city to dwell there;
not a new one altogether, but they rebuilt and enlarged Laish, and made it convenient for them to dwell in.

Judges 18:28 In-Context

26 And the descendants of Dan went their way. When Micah saw that they [were] stronger than him, he turned to return to his house.

27 And they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and they came to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people, and {they put them to the sword} and burned the city with fire.

28 There was no deliverer, because it [was] far from Sidon, and {they had had no dealings with anyone}. It [was] in the valley that belonged to Beth-rehob, and they rebuilt the city and lived in it.

29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the former name of the city [was] Laish.

30 And the descendants of Dan set up for themselves the carved divine image, and Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests for the tribe of the Danites until the time of the captivity of the land.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "a thing was not for them with anyone"
• [b]. Hebrew "built"