Judges 18:28

28 There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with Aram. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. 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 Then the Danites went their way. When Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.
27 The Danites, having taken what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, put them to the sword, and burned down the city.
28 There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with Aram. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city, and lived in it.
29 They named the city Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was formerly Laish.
30 Then the Danites set up the idol for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the time the land went into captivity.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Cn Compare verse 7: Heb [with anyone]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.