Judges 18:10-20

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.

Judges 18:10-20 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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.