Judges 18:15-25

15 They turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.
16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
17 Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there, and took 1the graven image and the ephod and household idols and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
18 When these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod and household idols and the molten image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19 They said to him, "Be silent, 2put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us 3a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?"
20 The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people.
21 Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them.
22 When they had gone some distance from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house assembled and overtook the sons of Dan.
23 They cried to the sons of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, "What is the matter with you, that you have assembled together?"
24 He said, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and have gone away, and what do I have besides? So how * can you say to me, 'What is the matter with you?' "
25 The sons of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, or else fierce * men will fall upon you and you will lose your life, with the lives of your household."

Judges 18:15-25 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 3

  • 1. Genesis 31:19, 30; Isaiah 41:29; Micah 5:13
  • 2. Job 21:5; Job 29:9; Job 40:4
  • 3. Judges 17:10

Footnotes 6

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