Judges 18:18-28

18 So they that were gone in took away the graven thing, the ephod, and the idols, and the molten god, And the priest said to them: What are you doing?
19 And they said to him: Hold thy peace, and put thy finger on thy mouth, and come with us, that we may have thee for a father, and a priest. Whether is better for thee, to be a priest in the house of one man, or in a tribe and family in Israel?
20 When he heard this, he agreed to their words, and took the ephod, and the idols, and the graven god, and departed with them.
21 And when they were going forward, and had put before them the children and the cattle, and all that was valuable,
22 And were now at a distance from the house of Michas, the men that dwelt in the houses of Michas gathering together followed them,
23 And began to shout out after them. They looked back, and said to Michas: What aileth thee? Why dost thou cry?
24 And he answered: You have taken away my gods which I have made me, and the priest, and all that I have, and do you say: What aileth thee?
25 And the children of Dan said to him: See thou say no more to us, lest men enraged come upon thee, and thou perish with all thy house.
26 And so they went on the journey they had begun. But Michas seeing that they were stronger than he, returned to his house.
27 And the six hundred men took the priest, and the things we spoke of before, and came to Lais, to a people that was quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword: and the city they burnt with fire,
28 There being no man at all who brought them any succour, because they dwelt far from Sidon, and had no society or business with any man. And the city was in the land of Rohob: and they rebuilt it, and dwelt therein,

Judges 18:18-28 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.

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