Judges 18
ש××€××× ×€×š×§ ×׎×
Section: × ××××× Â· × ××××× ×š×ש×× ×× | Book: Judges | Chapter: 18 of 21 | Day: 42 of 742
Date: March 25, 2026
×§×××× ×¢× ×× ×Ž×
Judges 18 is the second half of a two-chapter unit that began with the story of Micahâs private shrine in chapter 17, and it transforms what was a localized tale of religious improvisation into a tribal-scale narrative of conquest, theft, and institutionalized idolatry. The chapter opens with the refrain âIn those days there was no king in Israelâ (be-yamim ha-hem ein melekh be-Yisrael), a formula that appears four times in the closing chapters of Judges and serves as both a historical marker and a theological diagnosis. The absence of central authority is not merely a political observation but an explanation for the religious and moral chaos that follows. The tribe of Dan (shevet ha-Dani), having failed to secure its allotted territory in the lowlands â a failure already noted in Joshua 19:47 and Judges 1:34 â sends five scouts northward in search of a new home.
The narrative unfolds with a deliberate literary structure that mirrors and inverts the earlier Israelite conquest traditions. The five Danite spies recall the twelve spies of Numbers 13, but where those scouts brought back a report that paralyzed the nation with fear, these return with enthusiasm and urgency, declaring the land âvery goodâ (tovah meâod) and rebuking their kinsmen for hesitation. Their discovery of Laish â a city described as peaceful, unsuspecting, geographically isolated from Sidon, and lacking any military alliances â reads almost as a parody of conquest theology. The ease of the target and the vulnerability of its inhabitants raise uncomfortable moral questions that the text leaves unresolved, allowing the reader to sense the ethical dissonance between the Danitesâ confidence that âGod has delivered it into your handâ and the raw opportunism of attacking a defenseless population.
The encounter at Micahâs house forms the dramatic center of the chapter. The five spies, who had previously lodged there and consulted the Levite priest, now return with six hundred armed warriors and systematically strip the shrine of its ephod, teraphim, sculptured image (pesel), and molten image (massekha). The confrontation between the Danites and the young Levite priest is rich with irony: they silence him with a pragmatic offer of promotion â âWould you rather be priest to one manâs household, or be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?â â and the text notes with understated devastation that âthe priest was delightedâ (va-yitav lev ha-kohen). His willingness to abandon his patron Micah the moment a better opportunity presents itself exposes the hollowness of his religious vocation. Micahâs anguished cry â âYou have taken my gods that I made and my priest, and what do I have left?â â is one of the most poignant lines in the book, laying bare the absurdity of a religion built around man-made objects that can simply be carried away.
The chapterâs conclusion delivers its most startling revelation. The anonymous young Levite is finally identified as Jonathan son of Gershom son of Moses â though the Hebrew text famously suspends the letter nun in âManassehâ (menasheh) to signal that the true reading is âMosesâ (Mosheh), altered out of deference to the lawgiverâs honor. That a grandson of Moses himself could serve as priest to an idol is the ultimate indictment of the eraâs spiritual collapse. The closing verse notes that Micahâs sculptured image remained in Dan âthroughout the time that the House of God stood at Shilohâ (kol yemei heyot beit ha-Elohim be-Shiloh), creating a haunting image of legitimate and illegitimate worship coexisting simultaneously in the land. This detail connects forward to the catastrophe at Shiloh described in 1 Samuel 4 and to the psalmistâs lament in Psalm 78, where God âabandoned the tabernacle of Shilohâ in response to Israelâs provocation âwith their high places and their idols.â The story of Danâs migration thus serves not merely as tribal history but as a theological case study in how religious corruption spreads from the margins to the center of Israelite life.
׀ךק ××Ž× Â· Chapter 18
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
×֌ַ×֌֞×ÖŽÖ£×× ×Öž×ÖµÖ× ×ÖµÖ¥×× ×Ö¶Ö×Ö¶×Ö° ×֌ְ×֎ש×ְך֞×ÖµÖ× ×ÖŒ×Ö·×֌֞×ÖŽÖ£×× ×Öž×ÖµÖ× ×©×ÖµÖ£×Ö¶× ×Ö·×ÖŒÖž× ÖŽÖ× ×Ö°×ַק֌ֶש×ÖŸ×Ö€×Ö¹ × Ö·Öœ×Ö²×Öž×Ö ×֞ש×Ö¶Ö×ֶת ×֌֎×Ö© ×Ö¹×ÖŸ× ÖžÖš×€Ö°×Öž× ×ÖŒÖ×Ö¹ ×¢Ö·×ÖŸ×Ö·×֌֥×Ö¹× ×Ö·×Ö×ÖŒ× ×֌ְת×Ö¹×ְ֟ש×ÖŽ×Ö°×ÖµÖ¥× ×֎ש×ְך֞×ÖµÖ× ×ÖŒÖ°× Ö·×Ö²×ÖžÖœ×× {×€}
English:
In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of Dan was seeking a territory in which to settle; for to that day no territory had fallen to their lot among the tribes of Israel.
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֎ש×Ö°×Ö°×Ö£×ÖŒ ×Ö°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ£×â×â×ÖŽÖœ×֌֎ש×ְ׀֌ַ×Ö°×ªÖŒÖžÖ¡× ×Ö²×֎ש×ÖŒÖžÖ£× ×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽÖ£×× ×֎קְ׊×ֹת֞×Ö© ×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽÖš×× ×ÖŒÖ°× Öµ×ÖŸ×Ö·Ö×ÖŽ× ×֎׊֌××šÖ°×¢ÖžÖ£× ×ÖŒ×Öµ×ֶש×ְת֌֞×Ö¹Ö× ×ְךַ×ÖŒÖµÖ€× ×ֶת֟×Öž×ÖžÖ×šÖ¶×¥Ö ×ÖŒ×Ö°××קְך֞Ö×ÖŒ ×Ö·×֌ֹ××ְך֣×ÖŒ ×Ö²×Öµ×Ö¶Ö× ×Ö°×Ö×ÖŒ ×֎קְך֣×ÖŒ ×ֶת֟×Öž×ÖžÖךֶץ ×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö€××ÖŒ ×ַך֟×ֶ׀ְךַÖ×ÖŽ×Ö ×¢Ö·×ÖŸ×֌ֵ֣×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌֞×ÖŽÖ×× ×ÖŒ ש×ÖžÖœ××
English:
The Danites sent out five of their number, from their clan seat at Zorah and Eshtaolâvaliant menâto spy out the land and explore it. âGo,â they told them, âand explore the land.â When they had advanced into the hill country of Ephraim as far as the house of Micah, they stopped there for the night.
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
×ÖµÖ×ÖŒÖž× ×¢ÖŽ×ÖŸ×֌ֵ֣×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö°×ÖµÖ£×ÖŒÖž× ×ÖŽ×֌֎Ö×ך×ÖŒ ×ֶת֟ק֥×Ö¹× ×Ö·× ÖŒÖ·Öעַך ×Ö·×֌ֵ×ÖŽÖ× ×Ö·×֌֞ס֣×֌ך×ÖŒ ש×ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌ֹր××ְך×ÖŒ ××Ö¹Ö ×ÖŽÖœ×ÖŸ×Ö±×ÖŽ××Ö²×ÖžÖ£ ×Ö²×Ö¹Ö× ×֌ᅵᅵ֞×ÖŸ×Ö·×ªÖŒÖžÖ¥× ×¢Ö¹×©×Ö¶Ö× ×֌֞×Ö¶Ö× ×ÖŒ×Ö·×ÖŸ×֌ְ×ÖžÖ¥ ×€Ö¹Öœ××
English:
While in the vicinity of Micahâs house, they recognized the speechaspeech Lit. âvoice.â The Danites could tell by his dialect that he came from Judah and was therefore a former neighbor of theirs; cf. vv. 11â12. of the young Levite, so they went over and asked him, âWho brought you to these parts? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?â
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ֣××ֶך ×Ö²×Öµ×Ö¶Ö× ×֌֞×Ö¹Ö£× ×Ö°×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×¢ÖžÖ¥×©×Öž× ×ÖŽÖ× ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌֎ש×Ö°×֌ְךֵÖ× ÖŽ× ×Öž×Ö±×ÖŽ×ÖŸ×Ö×Ö¹ ×Ö°×Ö¹×ÖµÖœ××
English:
He replied, âThus and thus Micah did for meâhe hired me and I became his priest.â
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ֥××ְך×ÖŒ ×Ö×Ö¹ ש×Ö°×Ö·×ÖŸ× ÖžÖ£× ×Öµ××Ö¹×ÖŽÖ×× ×Ö°× ÖµÖ£×Ö°×¢ÖžÖ× ×ֲתַ׊ְ×ÖŽÖ£×Ö· ×֌ַךְ×֌ֵÖ× ×ÖŒ ×ֲש×ֶ֥ך ×Ö²× Ö·Ö×Ö°× ×ÖŒ ×Ö¹×Ö°×ÖŽÖ¥×× ×¢Öž×Ö¶Öœ××Öž×
English:
They said to him, âPlease, inquire of God; we would like to know if the mission on which we are going will be successful.â
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ֧××ֶך ×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×Ö·×֌ֹ×ÖµÖ× ×Ö°×Ö£×ÖŒ ×ְש×Öž×Ö×Ö¹× × Ö¹Ö£×Ö·× ×Ö°×Ö¹×ÖžÖ× ×֌ַךְ×֌ְ×Ö¶Ö× ×ֲש×ֶ֥ך ת֌ֵ×Ö°××֌֟×ÖžÖœ×֌נ{×€}
English:
âGo in peace,â the priest said to them, âGOD views with favor the mission you are going on.â
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֵ֜×Ö°××ÖŒÖ ×Ö²×ֵ֣ש×ֶת ×Öž×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽÖ×× ×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö××ÖŒ ×ÖžÖ×ְש×Öž× ×Ö·×֌֎ךְ×Ö£×ÖŒ ×ֶת֟×Öž×¢ÖžÖ£× ×ֲש×ֶך֟×֌ְק֎ךְ×֌֣֞×ÖŒ ××ֹש×Ö¶Öœ×ֶת֟×ÖžÖ ×Ö¶Ö ×Ö·× ×֌ְ×֎ש×Ö°×€ÖŒÖ·Öš× ×ŠÖŽ×Ö¹× ÖŽÖ×× ×©×Ö¹×§ÖµÖ£×â× ×ÖŒ×Ö¹×ÖµÖ×Ö· ×Ö°×Öµ××ÖŸ×Ö·×Ö°×ÖŽÖš×× ×֌֞×֞րך ×֌֞×ÖžÖ×šÖ¶×¥Ö ××Ö¹×šÖµÖ£×©× ×¢Ö¶Ö׊ֶך ×֌ךְ××Ö¹×§ÖŽÖ¥×× ×ÖµÖ×֌֞×Ö ×֎׊֌֎֣××Ö¹× ÖŽÖ×× ×Ö°×Öž×֥֞ך ×Öµ××ÖŸ×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×¢ÖŽ×ÖŸ×Öž×ÖžÖœ××
English:
The five men went on and came to Laish. They observed the people in it dwelling carefree, after the manner of the Sidonians, a tranquil and unsuspecting people, with no one in the land to molest them and with no hereditary ruler.bwith no hereditary ruler Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Moreover, they were distant from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anybody.
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö××ÖŒÖ ×Ö¶×ÖŸ×Ö²×Öµ××Ö¶Ö× ×Š×ךְע֞Ö× ×Ö°×ֶש×ְת֌֞×Ö¹Ö× ×Ö·×֌ֹ××ְך֥×ÖŒ ×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×Ö²×Öµ××Ö¶Ö× ×ÖžÖ¥× ×ַת֌ֶ֜××
English:
When [the spies] came back to their clans at Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellows asked them, âHow did you fare?â
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ××ְךÖ×ÖŒ ×§Ö×ÖŒ×Öž× ×Ö°× Ö·×¢Ö²×Ö¶Ö£× ×¢Ö²×Öµ××Ö¶Ö× ×ÖŒÖŽÖ€× ×šÖž×ÖŽÖ×× ×ÖŒÖ ×ֶת֟×Öž×ÖžÖךֶץ ×Ö°×ÖŽ× ÖŒÖµÖ¥× ××Ö¹×ÖžÖ× ×Ö°×Ö¹Ö× ×Ö°×Ö·×ªÖŒÖ¶Ö£× ×Ö·×ְש×ÖŽÖ×× ×Ö·×֟ת֌ֵע֣֞׊ְ×Ö×ÖŒ ×Öž×Ö¶Ö¥×ֶת ×Öž×Ö¹Ö× ×֞ךֶ֥ש×ֶת ×ֶת֟×Öž×֞֜ךֶץ×
English:
They replied, âLet us go at once and attack them! For we found that the land was very good, and you are sitting idle! Donât delay; go and invade the land and take possession of it,
׀ס××§ ×׎ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
×֌ְ×Ö¹×Ö²×Ö¶Ö× ×ªÖŒÖž×Ö¹Ö£××ÖŒâ× ×Ö¶×ÖŸ×¢Ö·Ö£× ×֌ֹ×ÖµÖ×Ö· ×Ö°×Öž×ÖžÖ×šÖ¶×¥Ö ×šÖ·×Ö²×ַ֣ת ×Öž×Ö·Ö×ÖŽ× ×֌֎֜×ÖŸ× Ö°×ªÖž× ÖžÖ¥×ÖŒ ×Ö±×Ö¹×ÖŽÖ×× ×֌ְ×Ö¶×Ö°×Ö¶Ö× ×Öž×§×Ö¹×Ö ×ֲש×ֶ֣ך ×ÖµÖœ××֟ש×ÖžÖ£× ×Ö·×ְסÖ×ֹך ×ÖŒ××ÖŸ×֌֞×ÖžÖך ×ֲש×ֶ֥ך ×֌֞×֞֜ךֶץ×
English:
for God has delivered it into your hand. When you come, you will come to an unsuspecting people; and the land is spacious and nothing on earth is lacking there.â
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 11
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֎סְעր×ÖŒ ×֎ש×֌֞×Ö ×ÖŽ×֌֎ש×ְ׀֌ַ֣×ַת ×Ö·×ÖŒÖž× ÖŽÖ× ×֎׊֌×ךְע֞Ö× ×ÖŒ×Öµ×ֶש×ְת֌֞×Ö¹Ö× ×©×ֵ֜ש×ÖŸ×Öµ×Ö£×ֹת ×ÖŽÖ××©× ×Öž×Ö×֌ך ×֌ְ×ÖµÖ¥× ×ÖŽ×Ö°×Öž×ÖžÖœ××
English:
They departed from there, from the clan seat of the Danites, from Zorah and Eshtaol, six hundred strong, girt with weapons of war.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 12
Hebrew:
×Ö·Öœ×֌ַעֲ×Ö×ÖŒ ×Ö·Öœ×֌ַ×Ö²× Ö×ÖŒ ×֌ְק֎ךְ×ַ֥ת ×ְע֞ך֎Ö×× ×֌֎֜×××ÖŒ×ÖžÖ× ×¢Ö·×ÖŸ×ÖŒÖµÖ¡× ×§Öž×šÖ°××֌֩ ×Ö·×֌֞ק֚×Ö¹× ×Ö·×Ö×ÖŒ× ×Ö·×Ö²× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ× ×¢Ö·Ö× ×Ö·×֌֣×Ö¹× ×Ö·×֌ֶÖ× ×ÖŽ× ÖŒÖµÖ× ×Ö·×ֲךֵÖ× ×§ÖŽ×šÖ°×ᅵᅵ֥ת ×ְע֞ך֎֜×××
English:
They went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why that place is called âthe Camp of Danâ to this day; it lies west of Kiriath-jearim.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 13
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ַעַ×ְך֥×ÖŒ ×֎ש×֌֞Ö× ×ַך֟×ֶ׀ְך֞Ö×ÖŽ× ×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö××ÖŒ ×¢Ö·×ÖŸ×֌ֵ֥×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖœ××
English:
From there they passed on to the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at the house of Micah.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 14
Hebrew:
×Ö·Öœ×ÖŒÖ·×¢Ö²× Ö×ÖŒ ×Ö²×ֵ֣ש×ֶת ×Öž×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽÖ×× ×Ö·×Ö¹×Ö°×ÖŽ××Ö® ×ְךַ×֌ֵ×Ö® ×ֶת֟×Öž×֣֞ךֶץ ×Ö·Ö×֎ש×Ö ×Ö·×֌ֹ֜××ְך×ÖŒÖ ×Ö¶×ÖŸ×Ö²×Öµ××Ö¶Ö× ×Ö·×Ö°×ַעְת֌ֶÖ× ×ÖŒÖŽÖ × ×ÖµÖ£×©× ×֌ַ×֌֞ת֌֎ր×× ×Öž×ÖµÖ×֌ֶ×Ö ×Öµ×€Ö£×Ö¹× ×֌תְך֞׀֎Ö×× ×֌׀ֶÖ×¡Ö¶× ×ÖŒ×ַס֌ֵ×ÖžÖ× ×ְעַת֌֞Ö× ×֌ְע֥×ÖŒ ×Ö·Öœ×֟ת֌ַעֲש×Öœ×ÖŒ×
English:
Here the five men who had gone to spy out the Laish region remarked to their clans, âDo you know, there is an ephod in these houses, and oracle idols,coracle idols See note at 17.5. and a sculptured image and a molten image? Now you know what you have to do.â
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 15
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֞ס֣×֌ך×ÖŒ ש×ÖžÖ×ÖŒÖž× ×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö××ÖŒ ×Ö¶×ÖŸ×֌ֵ֜×ת֟×Ö·× ÖŒÖ·Ö¥×¢Ö·×š ×Ö·×֌ֵ×ÖŽÖ× ×֌ֵ֣×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌֎ש×Ö°×Ö²××֌֟×Ö×Ö¹ ×ְש×Öž×Öœ×Ö¹××
English:
So they turned off there and entered the home of the young Levite at Micahâs house and greeted him.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 16
Hebrew:
×ְש×ֵש×ÖŸ×Öµ×Ö£×ֹת ×ÖŽÖ××©× ×Ö²××֌ך֎××Ö ×֌ְ×ÖµÖ£× ×ÖŽ×Ö°×Ö·×ְת֌֞Ö× × ÖŽ×ŠÖŒÖž×ÖŽÖ×× ×€ÖŒÖ¶Ö£×ªÖ·× ×ַש×֌֞Öעַך ×ֲש×Ö¶Öך ×ÖŽ×ÖŒÖ°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖœ××
English:
The six hundred Danites, girt with their weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate,
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 17
Hebrew:
×Ö·Öœ×֌ַעֲ×Ö×ÖŒ ×Ö²×ֵ֣ש×ֶת ×Öž×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽÖ×× ×Ö·×Ö¹×Ö°×ÖŽ××Ö® ×ְךַ×ÖŒÖµÖ£× ×ֶת֟×Öž×ÖžÖ×šÖ¶×¥Ö ×֌֣֞××ÖŒ ש×ÖžÖ×ÖŒÖž× ×Öž×§Ö°×Ö×ÖŒ ×ֶת֟×ַ׀֌ֶÖסֶ×Ö ×Ö°×ֶת֟×ÖžÖ£×Öµ×€Ö×Ö¹× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×ַת֌ְך֞׀֎Ö×× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×Ö·×֌ַס֌ֵ×ÖžÖ× ×Ö°×Ö·×֌ֹ×ÖµÖ× × ÖŽ×ŠÖŒÖž×Ö ×€ÖŒÖ¶Ö£×ªÖ·× ×ַש×֌ַÖעַך ×ְש×ֵש×ÖŸ×Öµ×Ö£×ֹת ×Öž×ÖŽÖ××©× ×Ö¶×Öž×Ö×֌ך ×֌ְ×ÖµÖ¥× ×Ö·×֌֎×Ö°×Öž×ÖžÖœ××
English:
while the five who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the sculptured image, the ephod, the oracle idols, and the molten image. The priest was standing at the entrance of the gate, and the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war,
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 18
Hebrew:
×Ö°×ÖµÖ×ÖŒÖ¶× ×֌֞Ö××ÖŒ ×֌ֵ֣×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌֎קְ××ÖŒÖ ×Ö¶×ªÖŸ×€ÖŒÖ¶Ö£×¡Ö¶× ×Öž×Öµ×€Ö×Ö¹× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×ַת֌ְך֞׀֎Ö×× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×Ö·×֌ַס֌ֵ×ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌ֹր××ֶך ×Ö²×Öµ××Ö¶×Ö ×Ö·×֌ֹ×ÖµÖ× ×ÖžÖ¥× ×ַת֌ֶÖ× ×¢Ö¹×©×ÖŽÖœ×××
English:
while the others entered Micahâs house and took the sculptured image, the molten image, the ephod, and the oracle idols.dthe sculptured image, the molten image, the ephod, and the oracle idols Lit. âthe sculptured image of the ephod, and the oracle idols, and the molten image.â The priest said to them, âWhat are you doing?â
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 19
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ֩××ְך×֌֩ ×Öš×Ö¹ ×Ö·×ֲךֵÖ×©× ×©×ÖŽÖœ××ÖŸ×Öž×Ö°×ÖžÖ€ ×¢Ö·×֟׀֌֎Ö××ÖžÖ ×Ö°×ÖµÖ£×Ö° ×¢ÖŽ×֌֞Ö× ×ÖŒ ×Ö¶×Ö°×Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ× ×ÖŒ ×Ö°×ÖžÖ£× ×ÖŒ×Ö°×Ö¹×ÖµÖ× ×Ö²×Ö£×Ö¹×â× ×Ö±××ֹתְ×ÖžÖ£ ×Ö¹×ÖµÖ× ×Ö°×Öµ××ªÖ ×ÖŽÖ£××©× ×Ö¶×ÖžÖ× ×Ö×Ö¹ ×Ö±××ֹתְ×ÖžÖ£ ×Ö¹×ÖµÖ× ×ְש×ÖµÖ¥×Ö¶× ×ÖŒ×Ö°×֎ש×ְ׀֌֞×ÖžÖ× ×֌ְ×֎ש×ְך֞×ÖµÖœ××
English:
But they said to him, âBe quiet; put your hand on your mouth! Come with us and be our father and priest. Would you rather be priest to one manâs household, or be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?â
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 20
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֎××Ö·×Ö ×ÖµÖ£× ×Ö·×֌ֹ×ÖµÖ× ×Ö·×֌֎ק֌ַ×Ö ×ֶת֟×ÖžÖ£×Öµ×€Ö×Ö¹× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×ַת֌ְך֞׀֎Ö×× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×ַ׀֌֞Ö×¡Ö¶× ×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö× ×ÖŒÖ°×§Ö¶Ö¥×šÖ¶× ×Öž×¢ÖžÖœ××
English:
The priest was delighted. He took the ephod, the oracle idols, and the sculptured image, and he joined the people.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 21
Hebrew:
×Ö·×ÖŒÖŽ×€Ö°× Ö×ÖŒ ×Ö·×֌ֵ×ÖµÖ××ÖŒ ×Ö·×֌֞ש×ÖŽÖ×××ÖŒ ×ֶת֟×Ö·×֌ַ֧ף ×Ö°×ֶת֟×Ö·×ÖŒÖŽ×§Ö°× Ö¶Ö× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×Ö·×֌ְ××ÖŒ×֌֞Ö× ×ÖŽ×€Ö°× Öµ××Ö¶Öœ××
English:
They set out again, placing the children, the cattle, and their household goods in front.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 22
Hebrew:
×ÖµÖ¥×ÖŒÖž× ×֎ךְ×ÖŽÖ××§×ÖŒ ×ÖŽ×֌ֵ֣×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö°×Öž×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽÖ×× ×ֲש×ֶրך ×֌ַ×֌֞ת֌֎××Ö ×ֲש×Ö¶×šÖ ×¢ÖŽ×ÖŸ×֌ֵ֣×ת ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× × ÖŽÖœ×Ö°×¢Ö²×§Ö×ÖŒ ×Ö·×֌ַ×Ö°×֌֎Ö××§×ÖŒ ×ֶת֟×ÖŒÖ°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖœ××
English:
They had already gone some distance from Micahâs house, when Micahâs neighbors mustered and caught up with the Danites.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 23
Hebrew:
×Ö·Öœ×֌֎קְךְ××ÖŒÖ ×Ö¶×ÖŸ×ÖŒÖ°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֌ַס֌ֵÖ×ÖŒ×ÖŒ ×€ÖŒÖ°× Öµ××Ö¶Ö× ×Ö·×֌ֹ××ְך֣×ÖŒ ×Ö°×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×ÖŸ×֌ְ×ÖžÖ ×ÖŒÖŽÖ¥× × ÖŽ×ְע֞֜קְת֌֞×
English:
They called out to the Danites, who turned around and said to Micah, âWhatâs the matter? Why have you mustered?â
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 24
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ֡××ֶך ×ֶת֟×Ö±×Ö¹×Ö·×Ö© ×ֲש×ֶך֟ע֞ש×ÖŽÖš××ªÖŽ× ×Ö°×§Ö·×Ö°×ªÖŒÖ¶Ö§× ×Ö°Öœ×ֶת֟×Ö·×֌ֹ×ÖµÖ× ×ַת֌ֵ×Ö°×Ö×ÖŒ ×ÖŒ×Ö·×ÖŸ×ÖŒÖŽÖ£× ×¢Ö×Ö¹× ×ÖŒ×Ö·×ÖŸ×֌ֶÖ× ×ªÖŒÖ¹××ְך֥×ÖŒ ×Öµ×Ö·Ö× ×Ö·×ÖŸ×֌֞֜×Ö°×
English:
He said, âYou have taken my priest and the gods that I made, and walked off! What do I have left? How can you ask, âWhatâs the matterâ?â
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 25
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֹ××ְךր×ÖŒ ×Öµ×Öž××Ö ×ÖŒÖ°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ× ×Ö·×֟ת֌ַש×Ö°×Ö·Ö¥×¢ ×§×Ö¹×Ö°×ÖžÖ ×¢ÖŽ×֌֞Ö× ×ÖŒ ׀֌ֶ֜×ÖŸ×֎׀ְ×֌ְע֣×ÖŒ ×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×Ö²× Öž×©×ÖŽ××Ö ×ÖžÖ£×šÖµ× × Ö¶Ö×€Ö¶×©× ×Ö°×Öž×¡Ö·×€Ö°×ªÖŒÖžÖ¥× × Ö·×€Ö°×©×Ö°×ÖžÖ ×Ö°× Ö¶Ö¥×€Ö¶×©× ×֌ֵ×תֶ֜×Öž×
English:
But the Danites replied, âDonât do any shouting at us, or some desperate party might attack you, and you and your family would lose your lives.â
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 26
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌ֵ×Ö°×Ö¥×ÖŒ ×Ö°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ× ×Ö°×ַךְ×֌֞Ö× ×Ö·×ÖŒÖ·Ö£×šÖ°× ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×֌֎֜×ÖŸ×Ö²×Öž×§ÖŽÖ¥×× ×ÖµÖ×֌֞×Ö ×ÖŽ×֌ֶÖ× ÖŒ×ÖŒ ×Ö·×֌֎Ö×€Ö¶× ×Ö·×֌֥֞ש××× ×Ö¶×ÖŸ×֌ֵ×ת֜×Ö¹×
English:
So Micah, realizing that they were stronger than he, turned back and went home; and the Danites went on their way,
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 27
Hebrew:
×Ö°×ÖµÖš×ÖŒÖž× ×Öž×§Ö°×Ö×ÖŒ ×ֵ֧ת ×ֲש×ֶᅵᅵ֟ע֞ש×ÖžÖ£× ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×Ö°Öœ×ֶת֟×Ö·×֌ֹ×Öµ×Ö® ×ֲש×ֶ֣ך ×ÖžÖœ×Öž×ÖŸ××Ö¹Ö ×Ö·×֌֞×Ö¹Ö£××ÖŒ ×¢Ö·×ÖŸ×Ö·Ö×ÖŽ×©× ×¢Ö·×֟עַ×Ö ×©×Ö¹×§ÖµÖ£× ×ÖŒ×Ö¹×ÖµÖ×Ö· ×Ö·×֌ַ×֌֥×ÖŒ ××ֹת֞Ö× ×Ö°×€ÖŽ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ×šÖ¶× ×Ö°×ֶת֟×Öž×¢ÖŽÖ×ך ש×֞ךְ׀֥×ÖŒ ×Öž×ֵ֜ש××
English:
taking the things Micah had made and the priest he had acquired. They proceeded to Laish, a people tranquil and unsuspecting, and they put them to the sword and burned down the town.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 28
Hebrew:
×Ö°×ÖµÖš×× ×ַ׊֌֎Ö×× ×ÖŒÖŽÖ§× ×šÖ°Öœ××Ö¹×§Öž×ÖŸ×ÖŽÖ£×× ×֎׊֌֎××Ö×Ö¹× ×Ö°×Öž×֞րך ×Öµ××ÖŸ×Öž×Ö¶×Ö ×¢ÖŽ×ÖŸ×Öž×ÖžÖ× ×Ö°×ÖŽÖ×× ×֌֞עֵÖ×Ö¶×§ ×ֲש×ֶ֣ך ×Ö°×Öµ×ת֟ךְ×Ö×Ö¹× ×Ö·×֌֎×Ö°× Ö¥×ÖŒ ×ֶת֟×Öž×¢ÖŽÖ×ך ×Ö·×֌ֵ֥ש×Ö°××ÖŒ ×ÖžÖœ×ÖŒ×
English:
There was none to come to the rescue, for it was distant from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone; it lay in the valley of Beth-rehob.They rebuilt the town and settled there,
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 29
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֎קְךְ×Ö€×ÖŒ ש×Öµ×ÖŸ×Öž×¢ÖŽ××šÖ ×֌֞Ö× ×֌ְש×Öµ×Ö ×ÖŒÖžÖ£× ×Ö²×ÖŽ××Ö¶Ö× ×ֲש×ֶ֥ך ××ÖŒ×֌ַÖ× ×Ö°×֎ש×ְך֞×ÖµÖ× ×Ö°××ÖŒ×ÖžÖ× ×Ö·Ö¥×ÖŽ×©× ×©×Öµ×ÖŸ×Öž×¢ÖŽÖ×ך ×֞ך֎×ש×Ö¹× ÖžÖœ××
English:
and they named the town Dan, after their ancestor Dan who was Israelâs son. Originally, however, the name of the town was Laish.
׀ס××§ ×׳ · Verse 30
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֞ק֎֧×××ÖŒ ×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×ÖŒÖ°× Öµ×ÖŸ×ÖžÖ× ×ֶת֟×ַ׀֌֞Ö×¡Ö¶× ×ÖŽÖ ××Öœ×Ö¹× Öž×ªÖžÖ × ×֌ֶ×ÖŸ×֌ֵךְש×Ö¹Öš× ×֌ֶ×ÖŸ×Ö°× Ö·×©×֌ֶÖ× ×Ö£×ÖŒ× ×ÖŒ×Öž× ÖžÖ×× ×Öž×Ö€×ÖŒ ×Ö¹Öœ×Ö²× ÖŽ××Ö ×ְש×ÖµÖ£×Ö¶× ×Ö·×ÖŒÖž× ÖŽÖ× ×¢Ö·×ÖŸ×Ö×Ö¹× ×֌ְ×Ö¥×ֹת ×Öž×֞֜ךֶץ×
English:
The Danites set up the sculptured image for themselves; and Jonathan son of Gershom son of Manasseh,eManasseh Heb. ×× ×©× with × suspended, indicating an earlier reading âMosesâ; cf. Exod. 2.22. and his descendants, served as priests to the Danite tribe until the land went into exile.
׀ס××§ ××Ž× Â· Verse 31
Hebrew:
×Ö·×֌֞ש×ÖŽÖ£×××ÖŒ ×Öž×Ö¶Ö× ×Ö¶×ªÖŸ×€ÖŒÖ¶Ö¥×¡Ö¶× ×ÖŽ××ÖžÖ× ×ֲש×ֶ֣ך ע֞ש×ÖžÖ× ×ÖŒ××ÖŸ×Ö°×ÖµÖ× ×Ö±×Ö¥×ֹת ×֌ֵ×ת֟×Öž×Ö±×Ö¹×ÖŽÖ×× ×֌ְש×ÖŽ×Ö¹Öœ×× {×€}
English:
They maintainedfmaintained Meaning of Heb. uncertain. the sculptured image that Micah had made throughout the time that the House of God stood at Shiloh.