Judges 18:1-6

The Danites Settle in Laish

1 In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

2 So the Danites sent five of their leading men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.” So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.

3 When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”

4 He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, “He has hired me and I am his priest.”

5 Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.”

6 The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval.”

Judges 18:1-6 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Judges 17:6; Judges 19:1
• 2. Joshua 19:47; Judges 1:34
• 3. S Genesis 30:6; Judges 13:25
• 4. ver 17
• 5. S Numbers 21:32
• 6. S Joshua 2:1
• 7. S Judges 17:1
• 8. Judges 17:7
• 9. Judges 17:12
• 10. S Genesis 25:22; Jdg 20:18,23,27; 1 Samuel 14:18; 2 Samuel 5:19; 2 Kings 1:2; 2 Kings 8:8; 1 Kings 22:5
• 11. 1 Kings 22:6