Judges 18

14–21 The five Danites who had first visited Micah (verses2–3) said to the others, “Now you know what to do” (verse 14). Their meaning was this: the idols and the priest had given assurance of success (verse 6); therefore, it would be good to take them along! So the five men went in and stole all of Micah’s religious objects (verse 17). Then they enticed the priest to come with them. The priest gladly agreed, anticipating no doubt an increase in pay and prestige (verse 20). The treacherous behavior of the Danites calls to mind the “blessing” given to Dan by his father Jacob, in which he likened Dan to a serpent and a viper (Genesis 49:16–17).

22–26 When Micah realized he had been robbed, he gathered some men and went in pursuit of the Danites. The Danites at first pretended not to know why Micah was chasing them (verse 23). When he accused them, they threatened to kill him. Seeing that he was outnumbered, Micah returned home. His pathetic question, “What else do I have?” (verse 24) is the ultimate cry of every person who does not have faith in the one true God.

27–31 These verses describe the successful capture of Laish and the establishment of Micah’s “priest”—Jonathan—as the priest of the Danites. Jonathan’s sons continued as priests until the time of the captivity⁷³ (verse 30).

The mention of this “captivity” indicates that the same fate that befell Micah was soon to befall the Danites. Micah’s priest and idols were captured by the Danites; soon the Danites’ priests and idols would be captured by someone else. These false priests and false gods were unable to prevent their own capture! Such is the futility of all gods and religions created by the hands and minds of sinful human beings. And such was the state into which God’s chosen people had descended: their nation was beginning to crumble—all because they had abandoned their true God and King.