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Judges 18

שו׀טים ׀ךק י׮ח

Section: נביאים · נביאים ךאשונים | Book: Judges | Chapter: 18 of 21 | Day: 42 of 742

Date: March 25, 2026


קלאוד על הנ׮ך

Judges 18 is the second half of a two-chapter unit that began with the story of Micah’s 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 “In those days there was no king in Israel” (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 — a failure already noted in Joshua 19:47 and Judges 1:34 — 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 “very good” (tovah me’od) and rebuking their kinsmen for hesitation. Their discovery of Laish — a city described as peaceful, unsuspecting, geographically isolated from Sidon, and lacking any military alliances — 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 Danites’ confidence that “God has delivered it into your hand” and the raw opportunism of attacking a defenseless population.

The encounter at Micah’s 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 — “Would you rather be priest to one man’s household, or be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” — and the text notes with understated devastation that “the priest was delighted” (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. Micah’s anguished cry — “You have taken my gods that I made and my priest, and what do I have left?” — 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 chapter’s conclusion delivers its most startling revelation. The anonymous young Levite is finally identified as Jonathan son of Gershom son of Moses — though the Hebrew text famously suspends the letter nun in “Manasseh” (menasheh) to signal that the true reading is “Moses” (Mosheh), altered out of deference to the lawgiver’s honor. That a grandson of Moses himself could serve as priest to an idol is the ultimate indictment of the era’s spiritual collapse. The closing verse notes that Micah’s sculptured image remained in Dan “throughout the time that the House of God stood at Shiloh” (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 psalmist’s lament in Psalm 78, where God “abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh” in response to Israel’s provocation “with their high places and their idols.” The story of Dan’s 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 י׮ח · Chapter 18

׀סוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

ב֌ַי֌֞מ֎֣ים ה֞הֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ ב֌ְי֎שְׂך֞אֵ֑ל ו֌בַי֌֞מ֎֣ים ה֞הֵ֗ם שֵׁ֣בֶט הַד֌֞נ֎֞י מְבַק֌ֶשׁ֟לրוֹ נַ֜חֲל֞ה֙ ל֞שֶׁ֔בֶת כ֌֎י֩ לֹא֟נ֚֞׀ְל֞ה ל֌֜וֹ עַד֟הַי֌֥וֹם הַה֛ו֌א ב֌ְתוֹךְ֟שׁ֎בְטֵ֥י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֖ל ב֌ְנַחֲל֞֜ה׃ {×€}

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.

In the period before a central monarchy, the tribe of Dan had not yet received a sufficient territorial inheritance and was actively seeking land to settle, an event the commentators place at the very beginning of the judges period.
ךש׎יRashi
כ֎֌י לֹא נ֞׀ְל֞ה לוֹ. יְךֻש֞֌ׁה כְ֌׀֎י ה֞ך֞או֌י ל֞הֶם בְ֌אֶךֶץ מְכֻבֶ֌שֶׁת, כְ֌מוֹ שֶׁנֶ֌אֱמַך ב֎֌יהוֹשֻׁעַ (יהושע יט:מז): ׎וַיֵ֌׊ֵא גְבו֌ל בְ֌נֵי ד־ן מֵהֶם׎, וְאַף מ֎כ֞֌אן יֵשׁ ל֎לְמֹד שֶׁה֞י֞ה מַעֲשֶׂה זֶה ב֎֌תְח֎לַ֌ת הַש֌ׁוֹ׀ְט֎ים מ֎י֞֌ד:
As there had not fallen to their lot. A suitable inheritance for them in the conquered territory, as it is said in Yehoshua, "The boundry of Bnei Don extended from them."1Yehoshua, 19:47. See Rashi there.2When the apportioning of the land among the tribes was completed. This, too, teaches us that this episode took place at the very beginning of the period of the judges.3In addition to the evidence presented by Rashi above, 17:1.

׀סוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎שְׁלְח֣ו֌ בְנֵי֟ד֣֞ן ׀ מ֎֜מ֌֎שְׁ׀֌ַחְת֌֞֡ם חֲמ֎שׁ֌֣֞ה אֲנ֞שׁ֎֣ים מ֎קְ׊וֹת֞ם֩ אֲנ֞שׁ֎֚ים ב֌ְנֵי֟חַ֜י֎ל מ֎׊֌ׇךְע֣֞ה ו֌מֵאֶשְׁת֌֞אֹ֗ל לְךַג֌ֵրל אֶת֟ה֞א֞֙ךֶץ֙ ו֌לְחׇקְך֞֔ה֌ וַי֌ֹאמְך֣ו֌ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לְכ֖ו֌ ח֎קְך֣ו֌ אֶת֟ה֞א֑֞ךֶץ וַי֌֞בֹրאו֌ הַך֟אֶ׀ְךַ֙י֎ם֙ עַד֟ב֌ֵ֣ית מ֮יכ־֔ה וַי֌֞ל֎֖ינו֌ שׁ֞֜ם׃

English:

The Danites sent out five of their number, from their clan seat at Zorah and Eshtaol—valiant men—to spy out the land and explore it. “Go,” they told them, “and explore the land.” When they had advanced into the hill country of Ephraim as far as the house of Micah, they stopped there for the night.

The Danites dispatched five elite warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol — towns in Judah's territory where they lived as resident aliens — to scout out new land, and they lodged near the house of Micah in the hill country of Ephraim.

׀סוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

הֵ֚מ֌֞ה ע֎ם֟ב֌ֵ֣ית מ֮יכ־֔ה וְהֵ֣מ֌֞ה ה֎כ֌֎֔יךו֌ אֶת֟ק֥וֹל הַנ֌ַ֖עַך הַל֌ֵו֎֑י וַי֌֞ס֣ו֌ךו֌ שׁ֞֗ם וַי֌ֹրאמְךו֌ לוֹ֙ מ֎֜י֟הֱב֎יאֲך֣֞ הֲלֹ֔ם ו֌ᅵᅵ֞ה֟אַת֌֥֞ה עֹשֶׂ֛ה ב֌֞זֶ֖ה ו֌מַה֟ל֌ְך֥֞ ׀ֹ֜ה׃

English:

While in the vicinity of Micah’s house, they recognized the speechaspeech Lit. “voice.” The Danites could tell by his dialect that he came from Judah and was therefore a former neighbor of theirs; cf. vv. 11–12. of the young Levite, so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you to these parts? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?”

The spies recognized the young Levite by his dialect and questioned him about what brought him there. Rashi reads their words as an implicit rebuke alluding to his descent from Moses, wondering how such a person ended up serving an idolatrous household.
ךש׎יRashi
מ֮י הֱב֎יאֲך֞ הֲלֹם. יֵשׁ כ֞֌אן תְ֌מ֎יהוֹת הַךְבֵ֌ה, (בבא בתךא קי:) לֹא מ֎זַ֌ךְעוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה ךַבֵ֌ינו֌ אַת֞֌ה, שֶׁנֶ֌אֱמַך ב֌וֹ (שמות ג:ה): ׎אַל ת֎֌קְךַב הֲלֹם׎, (שם ד:יא): ׮מ֮י שׂ֞ם ׀ֶ֌ה ל־א־ד־ם׮, (שם ד:ב): ׎מַה זֶ֌ה בְי֞דֶך֞׎:
Who brought you here. There are numerous questions here. Are you not descended from our teacher Moshe, to whom it was said, "Do not come close here,"4Shemos, 3:5.הֲלוֹם, “here”, in our passage corresponds with הֲלוֹם, “here”, in the statement to Moshe. "Who provided mankind with the mouth?"5Ibid, 4:11. ×€Ö¶×– in our passage coresponds with ×€Ö¶×” “mouth”, there. and "What is this in your hand?"6Ibid, 4:2. מ֞ה ב֌֞זֶה corresponds with מַה זֶה there.

׀סוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֣אמֶך אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כ֌֞זֹ֣ה וְכ֞זֶ֔ה ע֥֞שׂ֞ה ל֖֮י מ֮יכ־֑ה וַי֌֎שְׂכ֌ְךֵ֕נ֎י ו֞אֱה֎י֟ל֖וֹ לְכֹהֵ֜ן׃

English:

He replied, “Thus and thus Micah did for me—he hired me and I became his priest.”

The Levite explained his arrangement with Micah: Micah hired him and he serves as his personal priest, recounting the full story of how he came to be there.

׀סוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֥אמְךו֌ ל֖וֹ שְׁאַל֟נ֣֞א בֵאלֹה֎֑ים וְנֵ֣דְע֞֔ה הֲתַ׊ְל֎֣חַ ד֌ַךְכ֌ֵ֔נו֌ אֲשֶׁ֥ך אֲנַ֖חְנו֌ הֹלְכ֎֥ים ע֞לֶ֜יה֞׃

English:

They said to him, “Please, inquire of God; we would like to know if the mission on which we are going will be successful.”

The Danite spies asked the Levite to consult the divine oracle on their behalf to learn whether their scouting mission would succeed. The commentators note they mistakenly believed the teraphim had genuine prophetic power.
ךש׎יRashi
שְׁאַל נ֞א בֵאלֹה֎ים. בַ֌תְ֌ך֞׀֎ים שֶׁמְ֌דַבְ֌ך֎ים עַל יְדֵי מְכַשְ֌ׁ׀וֹת:
Please inquire of God through the figurines, which communicate by sorcery.

׀סוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֧אמֶך ל֞הֶ֛ם הַכ֌ֹהֵ֖ן לְכ֣ו֌ לְשׁ֞ל֑וֹם נֹ֣כַח יְהֹו֞֔ה ד֌ַךְכ֌ְכֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ך ת֌ֵלְכו֌֟ב֞֜ה֌׃ {×€}

English:

“Go in peace,” the priest said to them, “GOD views with favor the mission you are going on.”

The priest assured the spies that God favored their journey, though Rashi suggests that while the outcome was known to God, the oracle itself was worthless and had no real power.
ךש׎יRashi
נֹכַח ה׳ דַ֌ךְכְ֌כֶם. נֹכַח הַק֞֌דוֹשׁ ב֞֌ךו֌ךְ הו֌א ג֞֌לו֌י, כ֎֌י זֶה אֵין ב֌וֹ מַמ֞֌שׁ:
The route you will follow is before Adonoy It is revealed before the Holy One, blessed is He, but these [figurines] are worthless.

׀סוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֵ֜לְכו֌֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת ה֞אֲנ֞שׁ֎֔ים וַי֌֞בֹ֖או֌ ל֑֞יְשׁ֞ה וַי֌֎ךְא֣ו֌ אֶת֟ה֞ע֣֞ם אֲשֶׁך֟ב֌ְק֎ךְב֌֣֞ה֌ יוֹשֶׁ֜בֶת֟ל֞֠בֶ֠טַח כ֌ְמ֎שְׁ׀֌ַ֚ט ׊֎דֹנ֎֜ים שֹׁקֵ֣ט ׀ ו֌בֹטֵ֗חַ וְאֵין֟מַכְל֎֚ים ד֌֞ב֞րך ב֌֞א֞֙ךֶץ֙ יוֹךֵ֣שׁ עֶ֔׊ֶך ו֌ךְחוֹק֎֥ים הֵ֙מ֌֞ה֙ מ֎׊֌֎֣ידֹנ֎֔ים וְד֞ב֥֞ך אֵין֟ל֞הֶ֖ם ע֎ם֟א֞ד֞֜ם׃

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.

The five spies found Laish inhabited by a peaceful, prosperous people living in total security with no military defenses, few heirs to avenge them, no alliances, and far from Sidonian help — making the city an ideal target for conquest.
ךש׎יRashi
וְאֵין מַכְל֎ים ד֞֌ב֞ך. אֵין אֶח֞ד מֵהֶם ש־׹֮יךְ לַחֲבֵךוֹ שֶׁיַ֌חֲז֎יךֶנ֌ו֌ ךֵיק֞ם וְיַכְל֎ימֶנ֌ו֌, כְ֌מוֹ שֶׁנֶ֌אֱמַך בְ֌סוֹף ה֞ע֎נְי֞ן (׀סוק י): ׎אֵין מַחְסוֹך כ֞֌ל ד֞֌ב֞ך׎, כ֞֌ךְ שׁ֞מַעְת֎֌י: יוֹךֵשׁ עֶ׊ֶך. יוֹךְש֎ׁים מו֌ע֞ט֎ים, שֶׁא֎ם יַהַךְגו֌ אֶת אֵל֌ו֌, אֵין עוֹד עוֹךְך֎ין נ֮לְח־מ֮ים ע֎ם הַמַ֌חֲז֎יק֎ים בַ֌נַ֌חֲל֞ה: ו֌ךְחוֹק֎ים הֵמ֞֌ה. מֵעֶזְךַת ׊֎ידוֹנ֎ים: וְד־ב־׹ אֵין ל֞הֶם ע֎ם א־ד־ם. שׁו֌ם בְ֌ך֎ית כְ֌ךו֌ת֞ה שֶׁי֞֌בֹאו֌ לְעֶזְך֞ת֞ם לְעֵת הַ׊ֹ֌ךֶךְ:
With nothing to put them to shame. No one ever needed anothers' help, who might have rebuffed him empty handedly, thus humiliating him, as stated below, "Nothing is lacking."7Below v.10. So I have heard. There is a dearth of heirs. There are few heirs, so that if they should be killed, no other claimants will wage war against those who occupy the territory. They were distant. From the support of the Tzidonians. And they were not allied with anyone. They had not entered into any treaty requiring others to come to their assistance in times of need.

׀סוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַי֌֞בֹ֙או֌֙ אֶל֟אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם ׊ׇךְע֖֞ה וְאֶשְׁת֌֞אֹ֑ל וַי֌ֹאמְך֥ו֌ ל֞הֶ֛ם אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם מ֥֞ה אַת֌ֶ֜ם׃

English:

When [the spies] came back to their clans at Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellows asked them, “How did you fare?”

The spies returned to their kinsmen at Zorah and Eshtaol, who eagerly asked for their report — essentially asking what they found about the people and land assigned to Dan's territory.
ךש׎יRashi
מ־ה אַתֶ֌ם. כְ֌לוֹמַך מ־ה אַתֶ֌ם מְש֎ׁיב֎ים ד֞֌ב֞ך, מַה מְ֌׊֞אתֶם בַ֌מ֞֌קוֹם שֶׁנ֞֌׀ַל ל֞נו֌ גוֹך֞לֵנו֌, מ־ה ה֞ע֞ם, ×”Ö¶×—Öž×–Öž×§ הו֌א הֲך֞׀ֶה:
What is your response? As if to say, "what is your response?" What have you found, in the territory apportioned to us? Are the people strong or weak?'

׀סוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹאמְך֗ו֌ ק֚ו֌מ֞ה וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כ֌֎րי ך֞א֎֙ינו֌֙ אֶת֟ה֞א֞֔ךֶץ וְה֎נ֌ֵ֥ה טוֹב֖֞ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאַת֌ֶ֣ם מַחְשׁ֎֔ים אַל֟ת֌ֵע֣֞׊ְל֔ו֌ ל֞לֶ֥כֶת ל֞בֹ֖א ל֞ךֶ֥שֶׁת אֶת֟ה֞א֞֜ךֶץ׃

English:

They replied, “Let us go at once and attack them! For we found that the land was very good, and you are sitting idle! Don’t delay; go and invade the land and take possession of it,

The spies urged immediate action, reporting that the land was excellent and rebuking their brethren for hesitating. They insisted there was no reason for delay in seizing such an undefended and bountiful territory.
ךש׎יRashi
וְאַתֶ֌ם מַחְש֎ׁים. מ֎תְעַ׊ְ֌ל֎ים:
You are apathetic Lazy.

׀סוק י׮ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

כ֌ְבֹאֲכֶ֞ם ת֌֞בֹ֣או֌ ׀ אֶל֟עַ֣ם ב֌ֹטֵ֗חַ וְה֞א֞֙ךֶץ֙ ךַחֲבַ֣ת י֞דַ֔י֎ם כ֌֎֜י֟נְת֞נ֥֞ה֌ אֱלֹה֎֖ים ב֌ְיֶדְכֶ֑ם מ֞קוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ך אֵ֜ין֟שׁ֣֞ם מַחְס֔וֹך כ֌ׇל֟ד֌֞ב֖֞ך אֲשֶׁ֥ך ב֌֞א֞֜ךֶץ׃

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.”

The spies assured the Danites they would encounter an unsuspecting people in a spacious, abundant land that God had delivered into their hands, with nothing lacking there.

׀סוק י׮א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎סְעրו֌ מ֎שׁ֌֞ם֙ מ֎מ֌֎שְׁ׀֌ַ֣חַת הַד֌֞נ֎֔י מ֎׊֌ׇךְע֖֞ה ו֌מֵאֶשְׁת֌֞אֹ֑ל שֵׁ֜שׁ֟מֵא֣וֹת א֎֔ישׁ ח֞ג֖ו֌ך כ֌ְלֵ֥י מ֎לְח֞מ֞֜ה׃

English:

They departed from there, from the clan seat of the Danites, from Zorah and Eshtaol, six hundred strong, girt with weapons of war.


׀סוק י׮ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַ֜י֌ַעֲל֗ו֌ וַ֜י֌ַחֲנ֛ו֌ ב֌ְק֎ךְיַ֥ת יְע֞ך֎֖ים ב֌֎֜יהו֌ד֑֞ה עַל֟כ֌ֵ֡ן ק֞ךְאו֌֩ לַמ֌֞ק֚וֹם הַה֜ו֌א מַחֲנֵה֟ד֞֗ן עַ֚ד הַי֌֣וֹם הַז֌ֶ֔ה ה֎נ֌ֵ֕ה אַחֲךֵ֖י ק֎ךְיᅵᅵ֥ת יְע֞ך֎֜ים׃

English:

They went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why that place is called “the Camp of Dan” to this day; it lies west of Kiriath-jearim.

The 600 Danite warriors encamped near Kiriath-jearim in Judah, and the site became known as Mahaneh-Dan (Camp of Dan), located west of that city.

׀סוק י׮ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַעַבְך֥ו֌ מ֎שׁ֌֖֞ם הַך֟אֶ׀ְך֑֞י֎ם וַי֌֞בֹ֖או֌ עַד֟ב֌ֵ֥ית מ֎יכ֞֜ה׃

English:

From there they passed on to the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at the house of Micah.


׀סוק י׮ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַ֜י֌ַעֲנ֞ו֌ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת ה֞אֲנ֞שׁ֎֗ים הַהֹלְכ֎ים֮ לְךַג֌ֵל֮ אֶת֟ה֞א֣֞ךֶץ לַ֒י֎שׁ֒ וַי֌ֹ֜אמְךו֌֙ אֶל֟אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְת֌ֶ֗ם כ֌֎֠י יֵ֣שׁ ב֌ַב֌֞ת֌֎րים ה֞אֵ֙ל֌ֶה֙ אֵ׀֣וֹד ו֌תְך֞׀֎֔ים ו֌׀ֶ֖סֶל ו֌מַס֌ֵכ֑֞ה וְעַת֌֖֞ה ד֌ְע֥ו֌ מַ֜ה֟ת֌ַעֲשׂ֜ו֌׃

English:

Here the five men who had gone to spy out the Laish region remarked to their clans, “Do 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.”

The five original spies informed their fellow Danites about the ephod, teraphim, and idols in Micah's house, hinting that they should seize these cultic objects for their own use.

׀סוק ט׮ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַי֌֞ס֣ו֌ךו֌ שׁ֞֔מ֌֞ה וַי֌֞בֹ֛או֌ אֶל֟ב֌ֵ֜ית֟הַנ֌ַ֥עַך הַל֌ֵו֎֖י ב֌ֵ֣ית מ֮יכ־֑ה וַי֌֎שְׁאֲלו֌֟ל֖וֹ לְשׁ֞ל֜וֹם׃

English:

So they turned off there and entered the home of the young Levite at Micah’s house and greeted him.

The five spies turned aside to greet the young Levite priest at Micah's house, reestablishing contact with him while the larger Danite force waited nearby.

׀סוק ט׮ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וְשֵׁשׁ֟מֵא֣וֹת א֎֗ישׁ חֲגו֌ך֎ים֙ כ֌ְלֵ֣י מ֎לְחַמְת֌֞֔ם נ֎׊֌֞ב֎֖ים ׀֌ֶ֣תַח הַשׁ֌֑֞עַך אֲשֶׁ֖ך מ֎ב֌ְנֵי֟ד֞֜ן׃

English:

The six hundred Danites, girt with their weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate,

The 600 armed Danite warriors positioned themselves at the entrance of the gate, creating an imposing military presence while the spies carried out their plan inside.

׀סוק י׮ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַ֜י֌ַעֲל֞ו֌ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת ה֞אֲנ֞שׁ֎֗ים הַהֹלְכ֎ים֮ לְךַג֌ֵ֣ל אֶת֟ה֞א֞֒ךֶץ֒ ב֌֣֞או֌ שׁ֞֔מ֌֞ה ל֞קְח֗ו֌ אֶת֟הַ׀֌ֶ֙סֶל֙ וְאֶת֟ה֣֞אֵ׀֔וֹד וְאֶת֟הַת֌ְך֞׀֎֖ים וְאֶת֟הַמ֌ַס֌ֵכ֑֞ה וְהַכ֌ֹהֵ֗ן נ֎׊֌֞ב֙ ׀֌ֶ֣תַח הַשׁ֌ַ֔עַך וְשֵׁשׁ֟מֵא֣וֹת ה֞א֎֔ישׁ הֶח֞ג֖ו֌ך כ֌ְלֵ֥י הַמ֌֎לְח֞מ֞֜ה׃

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,

While the priest and the 600 soldiers stood at the gate, the five spies slipped back into Micah's house and took the sculptured image, ephod, teraphim, and molten image in a coordinated theft of all the cultic objects.

׀סוק י׮ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וְאֵ֗ל֌ֶה ב֌֚֞או֌ ב֌ֵ֣ית מ֮יכ־֔ה וַי֌֎קְחו֌֙ אֶת֟׀֌ֶ֣סֶל ה֞אֵ׀֔וֹד וְאֶת֟הַת֌ְך֞׀֎֖ים וְאֶת֟הַמ֌ַס֌ֵכ֑֞ה וַי֌ֹրאמֶך אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַכ֌ֹהֵ֔ן מ֥֞ה אַת֌ֶ֖ם עֹשׂ֎֜ים׃

English:

while the others entered Micah’s 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. “the sculptured image of the ephod, and the oracle idols, and the molten image.” The priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

The spies carried the sacred objects out of Micah's house, prompting the priest to protest and ask what they were doing — though his objection would prove futile against the armed force.

׀סוק י׮ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֩אמְךו֌֩ ל֚וֹ הַחֲךֵ֜שׁ שׂ֎֜ים֟י֞דְך֞ր עַל֟׀֌֎֙יך֞֙ וְלֵ֣ךְ ע֎מ֌֞֔נו֌ וֶהְיֵה֟ל֖֞נו֌ לְא֣֞ב ו֌לְכֹהֵ֑ן הֲט֣וֹב ׀ הֱיוֹתְך֣֞ כֹהֵ֗ן לְבֵית֙ א֎֣ישׁ אֶח֞֔ד א֚וֹ הֱיוֹתְך֣֞ כֹהֵ֔ן לְשֵׁ֥בֶט ו֌לְמ֎שְׁ׀֌֞ח֖֞ה ב֌ְי֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

But they said to him, “Be quiet; put your hand on your mouth! Come with us and be our father and priest. Would you rather be priest to one man’s household, or be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?”

The Danites silenced the priest and offered him a promotion: rather than serving one man's household, he could become priest to an entire tribe and clan in Israel. The appeal to his ambition proved irresistible.

׀סוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎יטַב֙ לֵ֣ב הַכ֌ֹהֵ֔ן וַי֌֎ק֌ַח֙ אֶת֟ה֣֞אֵ׀֔וֹד וְאֶת֟הַת֌ְך֞׀֎֖ים וְאֶת֟הַ׀֌֑֞סֶל וַי֌֞בֹ֖א ב֌ְקֶ֥ךֶב ה֞ע֞֜ם׃

English:

The priest was delighted. He took the ephod, the oracle idols, and the sculptured image, and he joined the people.

The priest was delighted by the offer of a larger constituency. He personally took up the cultic objects and willingly joined the Danite company, abandoning Micah without hesitation.

׀סוק כ׮א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎׀ְנ֖ו֌ וַי֌ֵלֵ֑כו֌ וַי֌֞שׂ֎֜ימו֌ אֶת֟הַט֌ַ֧ף וְאֶת֟הַמ֌֎קְנֶ֛ה וְאֶת֟הַכ֌ְבו֌ד֌֖֞ה ל֎׀ְנֵיהֶ֜ם׃

English:

They set out again, placing the children, the cattle, and their household goods in front.

The Danites strategically placed their children, livestock, and heavy goods at the front of the march, keeping the armed warriors in the rear to defend against any pursuit from Micah's direction.
ךש׎יRashi
וְאֶת הַכְ֌בו֌ד֞֌ה. מַש֞֌ׂאוֹת, כ֞֌ל ד֞֌ב֞ך שֶׁהו֌א כ֞֌בֵד בַ֌הֲל֎יכ֞תוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ י֞כוֹל ל֞ךו֌ץ א֎ם י֎ךְדְ֌׀ו֌ בְ֌נֵי הַמ֞֌קוֹם אַחֲךֵיהֶם: הַכְ֌בו֌ד֞֌ה. ׀יזנטו׎מא בְ֌לַעַ׎ז:
The bulky cargo. The loads. Anything which moved ponderously, thus making it impossible to move quickly should the local inhabitants pursue them. The bulky cargo. "Pezantume" in old French.

׀סוק כ׮ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

הֵ֥מ֌֞ה ה֎ךְח֎֖יקו֌ מ֎ב֌ֵ֣ית מ֮יכ־֑ה וְה֞אֲנ֞שׁ֎֗ים אֲשֶׁրך ב֌ַב֌֞ת֌֎ים֙ אֲשֶׁך֙ ע֎ם֟ב֌ֵ֣ית מ֮יכ־֔ה נ֎֜זְעֲק֔ו֌ וַי֌ַדְב֌֎֖יקו֌ אֶת֟ב֌ְנֵי֟ד֞֜ן׃

English:

They had already gone some distance from Micah’s house, when Micah’s neighbors mustered and caught up with the Danites.

After the Danites had traveled some distance, Micah's neighbors rallied together and pursued them, hoping to recover the stolen cultic property.

׀סוק כ׮ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַ֜י֌֎קְךְאו֌֙ אֶל֟ב֌ְנֵי֟ד֞֔ן וַי֌ַס֌ֵ֖ב֌ו֌ ׀֌ְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַי֌ֹאמְך֣ו֌ לְמ֮יכ־֔ה מַה֟ל֌ְך֖֞ כ֌֎֥י נ֎זְע֞֜קְת֌֞׃

English:

They called out to the Danites, who turned around and said to Micah, “What’s the matter? Why have you mustered?”

The Danites confronted their pursuers with feigned innocence, turning around and asking Micah what was wrong — as if they had done nothing provocative by taking his gods and priest.
ךש׎יRashi
וַיַ֌סֵ֌ב֌ו֌ ׀ְ֌נֵיהֶם. בְ֌נֵי ד־ן אֶל הַק֌וֹךְא֎ים אֲלֵיהֶם:
They turned their faces. The sons of Don turned towards those who shouted at them.

׀סוק כ׮ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֡אמֶך אֶת֟אֱלֹהַי֩ אֲשֶׁך֟ע֞שׂ֎֚ית֎י לְקַחְת֌ֶ֧ם וְ֜אֶת֟הַכ֌ֹהֵ֛ן וַת֌ֵלְכ֖ו֌ ו֌מַה֟ל֌֎֣י ע֑וֹד ו֌מַה֟ז֌ֶ֛ה ת֌ֹאמְך֥ו֌ אֵלַ֖י מַה֟ל֌֞֜ךְ׃

English:

He said, “You have taken my priest and the gods that I made, and walked off! What do I have left? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter’?”

Micah protested that they had taken both his gods and his priest, leaving him with nothing. His plaintive cry reveals how deeply he had invested his entire religious life in these man-made objects.
ךש׎יRashi
ו֌מַה ל֎֌י עוֹד. ו֌מַה נ֎֌שְׁאַך ל֮י עוֹד:
What else do I have. What else remains for me?

׀סוק כ׮ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹאמְךրו֌ אֵל֞יו֙ ב֌ְנֵי֟ד֞֔ן אַל֟ת֌ַשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלְך֖֞ ע֎מ֌֑֞נו֌ ׀֌ֶ֜ן֟י֎׀ְג֌ְע֣ו֌ ב֞כֶ֗ם אֲנ֞שׁ֎ים֙ מ֣֞ךֵי נֶ֔׀ֶשׁ וְא֞סַ׀ְת֌֥֞ה נַ׀ְשְׁך֖֞ וְנֶ֥׀ֶשׁ ב֌ֵיתֶ֜ך֞׃

English:

But the Danites replied, “Don’t do any shouting at us, or some desperate party might attack you, and you and your family would lose your lives.”

The Danites threatened Micah with violence, warning that hot-tempered men among them might attack him and his entire household if he continued pressing his complaint.
ךש׎יRashi
אֲנ֞ש֎ׁים מ֞ךֵי נֶ׀ֶשׁ. כַ֌עֲס֞נ֎ים שֶׁיֵ֌שׁ בְ֌ס֎יע֞תֵנו֌:
Bitter tempered men. There are angry men in our company.

׀סוק כ׮ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֵלְכ֥ו֌ בְנֵי֟ד֖֞ן לְדַךְכ֌֑֞ם וַי֌ַ֣ךְא מ֮יכ־֗ה כ֌֎֜י֟חֲז֞ק֎֥ים הֵ֙מ֌֞ה֙ מ֎מ֌ֶ֔נ֌ו֌ וַי֌֎֖׀ֶן וַי֌֥֞שׇׁב אֶל֟ב֌ֵית֜וֹ׃

English:

So Micah, realizing that they were stronger than he, turned back and went home; and the Danites went on their way,


׀סוק כ׮ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וְהֵ֚מ֌֞ה ל֞קְח֜ו֌ אֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁᅵᅵ֟ע֞שׂ֣֞ה מ֮יכ־֗ה וְ֜אֶת֟הַכ֌ֹהֵן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ך ה֞֜י֞ה֟לוֹ֒ וַי֌֞בֹ֣או֌ עַל֟לַ֗י֎שׁ עַל֟עַם֙ שֹׁקֵ֣ט ו֌בֹטֵ֔חַ וַי֌ַכ֌֥ו֌ אוֹת֖֞ם לְ׀֎י֟ח֑֞ךֶב וְאֶת֟ה֞ע֎֖יך שׂ֞ךְ׀֥ו֌ ב֞אֵ֜שׁ׃

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.

The Danites conquered Laish, putting its tranquil and unsuspecting population to the sword and burning the city. Rashi explains the city was also called Leshem, where a precious gem bearing Dan's name on the priestly breastplate was found, confirming this was their destined inheritance.
ךש׎יRashi
לַי֎שׁ. שֵׁם ה֞ע֎יך, ו֌בְסֵ׀ֶך יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (יהושע יט:מז) קוֹךֵא שְׁמ֞ה֌ ׳לֶשֶׁם׳, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁמ֞֌׊ְאו֌ שׁ֞ם אֶבֶן טוֹב֞ה שֶׁשְ֌ׁמ֞ה֌ ׳לֶשֶׁם׳, וְה֮יא ה֞יְת֞ה עַל הַחֹשֶׁן לְשֵׁבֶט ד֞֌ן, שְׁמוֹ כ֞֌תו֌ב עַל ׳לֶשֶׁם׳, וְי֞דְעו֌ שֶׁבֶ֌אֱמֶת ה֮יא נַחֲל֞ת֞ם:
Laish. The city's name. The book of Yehoshua entitles it "Leshem,"8Yehoshua 19:47. because they discovered, there, a precious gem called "leshem." This was inlaid in the Choshen plate,9The sacred Urim Vetumim oracles, which spelled out the Divine message for those inquirii of Adonoy. (Yoma, 73:b). and symbolized the tribe of Don, whose name was inscribed on it. Thus, they were certain that this was actually their ancestral property.

׀סוק כ׮ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וְאֵ֚ין מַ׊֌֎֜יל כ֌֎֧י ךְ֜חוֹק֞ה֟ה֎֣יא מ֎׊֌֎יד֗וֹן וְד֞ב֞րך אֵין֟ל֞הֶם֙ ע֎ם֟א֞ד֞֔ם וְה֮֕יא ב֌֞עֵ֖מֶק אֲשֶׁ֣ך לְבֵית֟ךְח֑וֹב וַי֌֎בְנ֥ו֌ אֶת֟ה֞ע֎֖יך וַי֌ֵ֥שְׁבו֌ ב֞֜ה֌׃

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,

Laish had no rescuer because of its geographic isolation — far from Sidon and without any alliances. The Danites rebuilt the destroyed city in the valley of Beth-rehob and settled there permanently.

׀סוק כ׮ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎קְךְאրו֌ שֵׁם֟ה֞ע֎יך֙ ד֌֞֔ן ב֌ְשֵׁם֙ ד֌֣֞ן אֲב֎יהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ך יו֌ל֌ַ֖ד לְי֎שְׂך֞אֵ֑ל וְאו֌ל֛֞ם לַ֥י֎שׁ שֵׁם֟ה֞ע֎֖יך ל֞ך֎אשֹׁנ֞֜ה׃

English:

and they named the town Dan, after their ancestor Dan who was Israel’s son. Originally, however, the name of the town was Laish.

The Danites renamed the conquered city Dan after their tribal ancestor, the son of Jacob. The text emphasizes this was the patriarch Dan himself, not merely a local clan leader, and notes the city's original name was Laish.

׀סוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַי֌֞ק֎֧ימו֌ ל֞הֶ֛ם ב֌ְנֵי֟ד֖֞ן אֶת֟הַ׀֌֑֞סֶל ו֎֠יה֜וֹנ֞ת֞֠ן ב֌ֶן֟ג֌ֵךְשֹׁ֚ם ב֌ֶן֟מְנַשׁ֌ֶ֜ה ה֣ו֌א ו֌ב֞נ֞֗יו ה֞יրו֌ כֹ֜הֲנ֎ים֙ לְשֵׁ֣בֶט הַד֌֞נ֎֔י עַד֟י֖וֹם ג֌ְל֥וֹת ה֞א֞֜ךֶץ׃

English:

The Danites set up the sculptured image for themselves; and Jonathan son of Gershom son of Manasseh,eManasseh Heb. מנשה with נ suspended, indicating an earlier reading “Moses”; cf. Exod. 2.22. and his descendants, served as priests to the Danite tribe until the land went into exile.

Jonathan son of Gershom served as priest for Dan's idol. The commentators identify him as Moses' grandson — the letter nun in 'Manasseh' is suspended in the Hebrew text to hint that the true reading is 'Moses,' altered out of respect. His descendants served until the land went into exile.
ךש׎יRashi
בֶ֌ן מְנַשֶ֌ׁה. מ֎׀ְ֌נֵי כְ֌בוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה כ֞֌תו֌ב נו֌׎ן לְשַׁנ֌וֹת אֶת הַשֵ֌ׁם, וְנ֎כְתַ֌ב תְ֌לו֌י֞ה לוֹמַך שֶׁלֹ֌א ה־י־ה מְנַשֶ֌ׁה אֶל֞֌א מֹשֶׁה: עַד יוֹם גְ֌לוֹת ה֞א֞ךֶץ. ב֎֌ימֵי סַנְחֵך֎יב בְ֌ג֞לו֌ת ך֎אשׁוֹנ֞ה:
Ben Menasheh. In deference to Moshe, the letter "nun" was included, thus altering the name. It is scripturally suspended to indicate that he was actually not Menasheh, but Moshe.10Bava Basra 109b. Until the day of the exile from the land. During the time of Sancheriv, at the first exile.

׀סוק ל׮א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וַי֌֞שׂ֎֣ימו֌ ל֞הֶ֔ם אֶת֟׀֌ֶ֥סֶל מ֮יכ־֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ך ע֞שׂ֑֞ה כ֌ׇל֟יְמֵ֛י הֱי֥וֹת ב֌ֵית֟ה֞אֱלֹה֎֖ים ב֌ְשׁ֎לֹ֜ה׃ {×€}

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.

Micah's idol remained set up in Dan throughout the entire period that the Tabernacle stood at Shiloh — a remarkable coexistence of illegitimate and legitimate worship. The commentators say it was finally removed after the Ark was captured and Samuel rose to lead Israel.

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