Judges 18

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1. 1In those days, Israel had no king. The tribe of Dan was searching for territory to settle in, because they still hadn't received their full share of land among the tribes of Israel.
2. 2So the people of Dan chose 5 brave warriors from their clan — men from Zorah and Eshtaol — and sent them out to scout the land. "Go explore the territory," they told them. The men traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and spent the night at Micah's house.
3. 3While they were near Micah's house, they recognized the young Levite's voice. They went over to him and asked, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?"
4. 4He told them, 'This is what Micah does for me: he has hired me, and I am his priest.'
5. 5They said to him, "Please ask God whether our mission will be successful."
6. 6The priest said to them, "Go in peace. Your way is before the LORD."
7. 7The five men left and traveled to Laish. They saw that the people there lived carefree, like the Sidonians, peaceful and secure. There was no magistrate in the land to put them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
8. 8They returned to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their relatives asked them, 'What do you say?'
9. 9They answered, "Let's go! Let's attack them! We've seen the land, and it's excellent. Why are you just sitting here? Don't hesitate — go take possession of it!"
10. 10"When you get there, you'll find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land. God has handed it over to you — a place that lacks nothing the earth has to offer."
11. 11So 600 Danite warriors set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed for battle.
12. 12They marched up and set up camp at Kiriath Jearim in Judah. That's why the place is still called Mahaneh Dan to this day — it is behind Kiriath Jearim.
13. 13From there they continued into the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at Micah's house.
14. 14The 5 men who had scouted the territory of Laish spoke up and told their fellow warriors, "Did you know that inside these buildings there's an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a metal idol? Think about what we should do."
15. 15So they turned off the road and went to the house of the young Levite — Micah's house — and greeted him.
16. 16Meanwhile, the 600 armed Danite warriors positioned themselves at the entrance of the gate.
17. 17The 5 scouts went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol, while the priest stood at the gate entrance with the 600 armed men.
18. 18When the men entered Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol, the priest called out to them, "What are you doing?"
19. 19They told him, "Be quiet! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's household, or for an entire tribe and family in Israel?"
20. 20That made the priest happy. He grabbed the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and joined the people.
21. 21They turned and headed out, placing the children, the livestock, and their valuables at the front of the group.
22. 22When they were a good distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah's house gathered together and caught up with the Danites.
23. 23They shouted after the Danites, who turned around and said to Micah, "What's your problem? Why did you bring this crowd?"
24. 24Micah replied, "You stole the gods I made and took my priest — and you just left! What do I have now? How can you ask me, 'What's your problem?'"
25. 25The Danites warned him, "You'd better stop shouting at us, or some hot-tempered men might attack you, and you'll get yourself and your whole family killed."
26. 26The Danites continued on their way. Micah could see they were too powerful for him, so he turned around and went home.
27. 27So the Danites carried off what Micah had made, along with his priest, and marched on to Laish — a peaceful, unsuspecting people. They struck them down with the sword and burned the city to the ground.
28. 28No one came to rescue them, because they were far from Sidon and had no alliances with anyone. The city was in the valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there.
29. 29They renamed the city Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was a son of Israel. The city had originally been called Laish.
30. 30The Danites set up the carved image, and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, along with his descendants, served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the day the land went into captivity.
31. 31They kept Micah's carved image — the one he had made — set up there the entire time the house of God was in Shiloh.