Parallel Bible results for "judges 18"

Judges 18

The Message Bible MSG

1 In those days there was no king in Israel. But also in those days, the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to settle down. They hadn't yet occupied their plot among the tribes of Israel.

2 The Danites sent out five robust warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to look over the land and see what was out there suitable for their families. They said, "Go and explore the land."

3 As they neared Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They went over and said to him, "How on earth did you get here? What's going on? What are you doing here?"

4 He said, "One thing led to another: Micah hired me and I'm now his priest."

5 They said, "Oh, good - inquire of God for us. Find out whether our mission will be a success."

6 The priest said, "Go assured. God's looking out for you all the way."

7 The five men left and headed north to Laish. They saw that the people there were living in safety under the umbrella of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting. They had everything going for them. But the people lived a long way from the Sidonians to the west and had no treaty with the Arameans to the east.

8 When they got back to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked, "So, how did you find things?"

9 They said, "Let's go for it! Let's attack. We've seen the land and it is excellent. Are you going to just sit on your hands? Don't dawdle! Invade and conquer!

10 When you get there, you'll find they're sitting ducks, totally unsuspecting. Wide open land - God is handing it over to you, everything you could ever ask for."

11 So 600 Danite men set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed to the teeth.

12 Along the way they made camp at Kiriath Jearim in Judah. That is why the place is still today called Dan's Camp - it's just west of Kiriath Jearim.

13 From there they proceeded into the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house.

14 The five men who earlier had explored the country of Laish told their companions, "Did you know there's an ephod, teraphim-idols, and a cast god-sculpture in these buildings? What do you think? Do you want to do something about it?"

15 So they turned off the road there, went to the house of the young Levite at Micah's place and asked how things had been with him.

16 The 600 Danites, all well-armed, stood guard at the entrance to the gate

17 while the five scouts who had gone to explore the land went in and took the carved idol, the ephod, the teraphim-idols, and the god-sculpture. The priest was standing at the gate entrance with the 600 armed men.

18 When the five went into Micah's house and took the carved idol, the ephod, the teraphim-idols, and the sculpted god, the priest said to them, "What do you think you're doing?"

19 They said to him, "Hush! Don't make a sound. Come with us. Be our father and priest. Which is more important, that you be a priest to one man or that you become priest to a whole tribe and clan in Israel?"

20 The priest jumped at the chance. He took the ephod, the teraphim-idols, and the idol and fell in with the troops.

21 They turned away and set out, putting the children, the cattle, and the gear in the lead.

22 They were well on their way from Micah's house before Micah and his neighbors got organized. But they soon overtook the Danites.

23 They shouted at them. The Danites turned around and said, "So what's all the noise about?"

24 Micah said, "You took my god, the one I made, and you took my priest. And you marched off! What do I have left? How can you now say, 'What's the matter?'"

25 But the Danites answered, "Don't yell at us; you just might provoke some fierce, hot-tempered men to attack you, and you'll end up an army of dead men."

26 The Danites went on their way. Micah saw that he didn't stand a chance against their arms. He turned back and went home.

27 So they took the things that Micah had made, along with his priest, and they arrived at Laish, that city of quiet and unsuspecting people. They massacred the people and burned down the city.

28 There was no one around to help. They were a long way from Sidon and had no treaty with the Arameans. Laish was in the valley of Beth Rehob.

29 When they rebuilt the city they renamed it Dan after their ancestor who was a son of Israel, but its original name was Laish.

30 The Danites set up the god-figure for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his descendants were priests to the tribe of Dan down to the time of the land's captivity.

31 All during the time that there was a sanctuary of God in Shiloh, they kept for their private use the god-figure that Micah had made.

New Century Version NCV

1 At that time Israel did not have a king. And at that time the tribe of Dan was still looking for a land where they could live, a land of their own. The Danites had not yet been given their own land among the tribes of Israel.

2 So, from their family groups, they chose five soldiers from the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out and explore the land. They were told, "Go, explore the land." They came to the mountains of Ephraim, to Micah's house, where they spent the night.

3 When they came near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. So they stopped there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing here? Why are you here?"

4 He told them what Micah had done for him, saying "He hired me. I am his priest."

5 They said to him, "Please ask God if our journey will be successful."

6 The priest said to them, "Go in peace. The Lord is pleased with your journey."

7 So the five men left. When they came to the city of Laish, they saw that the people there lived in safety, like the people of Sidon. They thought they were safe and had plenty of everything. They lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone else.

8 When the five men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What did you find?"

9 They answered, "We have seen the land, and it is very good. We should attack them. Aren't you going to do something? Don't wait! Let's go and take that land!

10 When you go, you will see there is plenty of land -- plenty of everything! The people are not expecting an attack. Surely God has handed that land over to us!"

11 So six hundred Danites left Zorah and Eshtaol ready for war.

12 On their way they set up camp near the city of Kiriath Jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is named Mahaneh Dann to this day.

13 From there they traveled on to the mountains of Ephraim. Then they came to Micah's house.

14 The five men who had explored the land around Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know in one of these houses there are a holy vest, household gods, an idol, and a statue? You know what to do."

15 So they stopped at the Levite's house, which was also Micah's house, and greeted the Levite.

16 The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance gate, wearing their weapons of war.

17 The five spies went into the house and took the idol, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue. The priest and the six hundred men armed for war stood by the entrance gate.

18 When the spies went into Micah's house and took the image, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue, the priest asked them, "What are you doing?"

19 They answered, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and family group in Israel?"

20 This made the priest happy. So he took the holy vest, the household idols, and the idol and went with the Danites.

21 They left Micah's house, putting their little children, their animals, and everything they owned in front of them.

22 When they had gone a little way from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called out and caught up with them.

23 The men with Micah shouted at the Danites, who turned around and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you? Why have you been called out to fight?"

24 Micah answered, "You took my gods that I made and my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What's the matter?'"

25 The Danites answered, "You should not argue with us. Some of our angry men might attack you, killing you and your family."

26 Then the Danites went on their way. Micah knew they were too strong for him, so he turned and went back home.

27 Then the Danites took what Micah had made and his priest and went on to Laish. They attacked those peaceful people and killed them with their swords and then burned the city.

28 There was no one to save the people of Laish. They lived too far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone else. Laish was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The people of Dan rebuilt the city and lived there.

29 They changed the name of Laish to Dan, naming it for their ancestor Dan, one of the sons of Israel.

30 The people of Dan set up the idols in the city of Dan. Jonathan son of Gershom, Moses' son, and his sons served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the land was captured.

31 The people of Dan set up the idols Micah had made as long as the Holy Tent of God was in Shiloh.