GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
16 The 600 armed men from Dan stood at the entrance to the city.
16
The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate.
17 The five men who had gone to spy throughout the land went inside. They took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol. The priest stood at the entrance to the city with the 600 armed men.
17
The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance of the gate.
18 When these men entered Micah's house and took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol, the priest asked them, "What are you doing?"
18
When the five men went into Micah’s house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 They told him, "Keep 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 in Israel and its families?"
19
They answered him, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?”
20 The priest was content. He took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved idol and went with the people.
20
The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people.
21 When they left, they put their children, livestock, and property in front of them.
21
Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.
22 When they had already gone some distance from Micah's house, Micah's neighbors were called together to help him catch up to the people of Dan.
22
When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites.
23 They shouted at them. But the people of Dan turned around and said to Micah, "What's your problem? Why did you call your neighbors together to attack us?"
23
As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?”
24 Micah answered, "You've taken away the gods I made as well as my priest. What do I have left? How can you say to me, 'What's your problem?'"
24
He replied, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ”
25 The people of Dan replied, "Don't make another sound, or some violent men will attack you. Then you and your family will lose your lives."
25
The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”
26 The people of Dan went on their way. Micah saw they were stronger than he was, so he turned around and went home.
26
So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.