18
When the men went into Micah's house and took the sacred objects, the priest asked them, "What are you doing?"
19
They told him, "Keep quiet. Don't say a word. Come with us and be our priest and adviser. Wouldn't you rather be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for the family of one man?"
20
This made the priest very happy, so he took the sacred objects and went along with them.
21
They turned around and started off, with their children, their livestock, and their belongings going ahead.
22
They had traveled a good distance from the house when Micah called his neighbors out for battle. They caught up with the Danites
23
and shouted at them. The Danites turned around and asked Micah, "What's the matter? Why all this mob?"
24
Micah answered, "What do you mean, "What's the matter?' You take my priest and the gods that I made, and walk off! What have I got left?"
25
The Danites told him, "You had better not say anything else unless you want these men to get angry and attack you. You and your whole family would die."
26
Then the Danites went on. Micah saw that they were too strong for him, so he turned and went back home.
27
After the Danites had taken the priest and the things that Micah had made, they went and attacked Laish, that town of peaceful, quiet people which was in the same valley as Bethrehob. They killed the inhabitants and burned the town. There was no one to save them, because Laish was a long way from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any other people. The Danites rebuilt the town and settled down there.