Judges 18:9

9 And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and, behold, very good, yet ye are still: delay not to go, an 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

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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 And the five men went on, and came to Laisa; and they saw the people in the midst of it dwelling securely, at ease as the manner of the Sidonians, and there is no one perverting or shaming a matter in the land, no heir extorting treasures; and they are far from the Sidonians, and they have no intercourse with any one.

8 And the five men came to their brethren to Saraa and Esthaol, and said to their brethren, Why sit ye here ?

9 And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and, behold, very good, yet ye are still: delay not to go, an to enter in to possess the land.

10 And whensoever ye shall go, ye shall come in upon a people secure, and the land extensive, for God has given it into your hand; a place where there is no want of anything that the earth affords.

11 And there departed thence of the families of Dan, from Saraa and from Esthaol, six hundred men, girded with weapons of war.