Judges 18:5

5 And they say to him, `Ask, we pray thee, at God, and we know whether our way is prosperous on which we are going.'

Judges 18:5 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 18:5

And they said unto him, ask counsel, we pray thee, of God
They did not reprove him for assuming the priestly office, when they knew he was a Levite, such was the corruption of those times, and the great depravity and declensions they were fallen into; nor even for the idolatry he was guilty of, but encourage him in it, and thought they had got a fine opportunity, which they readily laid hold on, to have counsel asked for them of God, about the success of the errand they were sent about; to this they were led at sight of the ephod, which was like that in the tabernacle, and of the teraphim, images which, according to a notion that prevailed, when consulted, foretold future things; whether by God they meant the true God, who they thought would give an answer by these, or Micah's gods, is not certain; according to the Targum of Jonathan, they meant the true God, which paraphrases it,

``ask of the Word of the Lord:''

that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous or no;
whether they should find out a proper place to dwell in, and be able to get possession of it.

Judges 18:5 In-Context

3 They [are] with the household of Micah, and they have discerned the voice of the young man, the Levite, and turn aside there, and say to him, `Who hath brought thee hither? and what art thou doing in this [place?] and what to thee here?'

4 And he saith unto them, `Thus and thus hath Micah done to me; and he hireth me, and I am to him for a priest.'

5 And they say to him, `Ask, we pray thee, at God, and we know whether our way is prosperous on which we are going.'

6 And the priest saith to them, `Go in peace; over-against Jehovah [is] your way in which ye go.'

7 And the five men go, and come in to Laish, and see the people which [is] in its midst, dwelling confidently, according to the custom of Zidonians, quiet and confident; and there is none putting to shame in the land in [any] thing, possessing restraint, and they [are] far off from the Zidonians, and have no word with [any] man.