1 At|strong="H3427" that|strong="H3588" time|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3588" Israelites|strong="H3478" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" have|strong="H0369" a|strong="H3588" king|strong="H4428". And|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3588" tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H4428" Dan was|strong="H0369" still|strong="H5704" looking|strong="H1245" for|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" place to|strong="H5704" live|strong="H3427". They|strong="H1992" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" have|strong="H0369" their|strong="H1992" own land|strong="H5159" yet|strong="H3588". The|strong="H3588" other|strong="H0369" tribes|strong="H7626" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478" already had|strong="H3478" their|strong="H1992" land|strong="H5159", but|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H4428" Dan had|strong="H3478" not|strong="H3808" taken|strong="H3427" their|strong="H1992" land|strong="H5159" yet|strong="H3588".
2 So|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0853" tribe|strong="H4940" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" sent|strong="H7971" five|strong="H2568" soldiers|strong="H0376" to|strong="H0413" look for|strong="H0413" some|strong="H0376" land|strong="H0776". They|strong="H8033" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" search|strong="H2713" for|strong="H0413" a|strong="H0935" good place|strong="H1004" to|strong="H0413" live. These five|strong="H2568" men|strong="H0376" were|strong="H1121" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" cities|strong="H0935" of|strong="H1121" Zorah|strong="H6881" and|strong="H1121" Eshtaol|strong="H0847". They|strong="H8033" were|strong="H1121" chosen because|strong="H0413" they|strong="H8033" were|strong="H1121" from|strong="H0935" all|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0853" families|strong="H4940" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835". They|strong="H8033" were|strong="H1121" told|strong="H0559", “Go|strong="H0935", look for|strong="H0413" some|strong="H0376" land|strong="H0776".”
3 When|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" five men|strong="H5288" came|strong="H0935" close|strong="H5973" to|strong="H0559" Micah’s|strong="H4318" house|strong="H1004", they|strong="H1992" heard|strong="H6963" the|strong="H0853" voice|strong="H6963" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" Levite|strong="H3881". They|strong="H1992" recognized|strong="H5234" his|strong="H0935" voice|strong="H6963", so|strong="H6213" they|strong="H1992" stopped|strong="H5493" at|strong="H1004" Micah’s|strong="H4318" house|strong="H1004". They|strong="H1992" asked|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H5288", “Who|strong="H4310" brought|strong="H0935" you|strong="H0859" to|strong="H0559" this|strong="H2088" place|strong="H1004"? What|strong="H4100" are|strong="H1992" you|strong="H0859" doing|strong="H6213"? Why|strong="H4100" are|strong="H1992" you|strong="H0859" here|strong="H6311"?”
4 The|strong="H0559" young man told|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413" what|strong="H2088" Micah|strong="H4318" had|strong="H1961" done|strong="H6213" for|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413". “Micah|strong="H4318" hired|strong="H7936" me|strong="H0413",” he|strong="H6213" said|strong="H0559". “I|strong="H2088" am|strong="H1961" his|strong="H1961" priest|strong="H3548".”
5 So|strong="H1980" they|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H5921", “Please|strong="H4994" ask|strong="H7592" God|strong="H0430" if|strong="H0834" our|strong="H5921" search for|strong="H5921" a|strong="H0834" place to|strong="H0559" live|strong="H1980" will|strong="H0430" be|strong="H0430" successful|strong="H6743".”
6 The|strong="H0559" priest|strong="H3548" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" five men|strong="H0559", “Yes. Go in|strong="H3068" peace|strong="H7965". The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" lead you|strong="H0834" on|strong="H1870" your|strong="H3068" way|strong="H1870".”
7 So|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" five|strong="H2568" men|strong="H0376" left|strong="H0935". They|strong="H1992" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0776" Laish and|strong="H0935" saw|strong="H7200" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H0776" that|strong="H0834" city lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" safety|strong="H0983". They|strong="H1992" were|strong="H0834" ruled by|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H0776" Sidon. Everything|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0369" peaceful|strong="H3427" and|strong="H0935" quiet|strong="H8252". The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" had|strong="H0834" plenty of|strong="H0776" everything|strong="H0834", and|strong="H0935" they|strong="H1992" didn’t have|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0376" enemies nearby|strong="H7130" to|strong="H0935" hurt them|strong="H1992". Also|strong="H0853" they|strong="H1992" lived|strong="H3427" a|strong="H7200" long|strong="H7350" way|strong="H1697" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0776" Sidon, and|strong="H0935" they|strong="H1992" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0369" have|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0376" agreements with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H0776" Aram.
8 The|strong="H0559" five men|strong="H0559" went|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" cities|strong="H0935" of|strong="H0251" Zorah|strong="H6881" and|strong="H0935" Eshtaol|strong="H0847". Their|strong="H0935" relatives|strong="H0251" asked|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413", “What|strong="H4100" did|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0859" learn?”
9 The|strong="H0853" five men|strong="H0559" answered|strong="H0559", “We|strong="H3588" have|strong="H0776" found some|strong="H2009" land|strong="H0776", and|strong="H0935" it|strong="H5921" is|strong="H0776" very|strong="H3966" good|strong="H2896". We|strong="H3588" should|strong="H3588" attack|strong="H5927" them|strong="H0853". Don’t|strong="H0408" wait! Let’s go|strong="H0935" and|strong="H0935" take|strong="H3423" that|strong="H3588" land|strong="H0776"!
10 When|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" that|strong="H0834" place|strong="H4725", you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0430" see|strong="H0935" that|strong="H0834" there|strong="H8033" is|strong="H0369" plenty|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0776" land|strong="H0776". There|strong="H8033" is|strong="H0369" plenty|strong="H3605" of|strong="H0776" everything|strong="H3605" there|strong="H8033". You|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0430" also|strong="H0430" see|strong="H0935" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" are|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0369" expecting an|strong="H5414" attack|strong="H0935". Surely|strong="H3588" God|strong="H0430" has|strong="H0430" given|strong="H5414" that|strong="H0834" land|strong="H0776" to|strong="H0413" us|strong="H5414".”
11 So|strong="H5265" 600 men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H5265" the|strong="H8033" tribe|strong="H4940" of|strong="H0376" Dan left|strong="H5265" the|strong="H8033" cities of|strong="H0376" Zorah|strong="H6881" and|strong="H3967" Eshtaol|strong="H0847". They|strong="H8033" were|strong="H0376" ready for|strong="H8033" war|strong="H4421".
12 On|strong="H5921" their|strong="H5921" way|strong="H2088" to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H5921" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H3117" Laish, they|strong="H3651" stopped near|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H3117" Kiriath|strong="H7157" Jearim in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" land|strong="H4725" of|strong="H3117" Judah|strong="H3063". They|strong="H3651" set|strong="H5927" up|strong="H5927" a|strong="H7121" camp|strong="H2583" there|strong="H2009". That|strong="H3117" is|strong="H2088" why|strong="H3651" the|strong="H5921" place|strong="H4725" west|strong="H0310" of|strong="H3117" Kiriath|strong="H7157" Jearim is|strong="H2088" named|strong="H7121" Mahaneh Dan to|strong="H5704" this|strong="H2088" very|strong="H2088" day|strong="H3117".
13 From|strong="H0935" there|strong="H8033" the|strong="H0935" 600 men traveled|strong="H5674" on|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" hill|strong="H2022" country|strong="H2022" of|strong="H1004" Ephraim|strong="H0669". Then|strong="H0935" they|strong="H8033" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Micah’s|strong="H4318" house|strong="H1004".
14 So|strong="H1980" the|strong="H0853" five|strong="H2568" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" had|strong="H3588" explored the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" around|strong="H1980" Laish spoke|strong="H0559". They|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" their|strong="H3588" relatives|strong="H0251", “There|strong="H3426" is|strong="H4100" an|strong="H3588" ephod|strong="H0646" in|strong="H1980" one|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0776" these|strong="H0428" houses|strong="H1004". And|strong="H1980" there|strong="H3426" are|strong="H0428" also|strong="H0853" household|strong="H1004" gods|strong="H1980", a|strong="H3588" carved|strong="H6459" statue, and|strong="H1980" a|strong="H3588" silver idol|strong="H6459". You|strong="H3588" know|strong="H3045" what|strong="H4100" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H6213".”
15 So|strong="H0935" they|strong="H8033" stopped|strong="H5493" at|strong="H0413" Micah’s|strong="H4318" house|strong="H1004", where|strong="H8033" the|strong="H0413" young|strong="H5288" Levite|strong="H3881" lived. They|strong="H8033" asked|strong="H7592" the|strong="H0413" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H5288" how|strong="H7965" he|strong="H8033" was|strong="H1004".
16 The|strong="H0834" 600 men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0834" tribe of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" stood|strong="H5324" at|strong="H4421" the|strong="H0834" entrance|strong="H6607" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" gate|strong="H8179". They|strong="H0834" all|strong="H0376" had|strong="H0834" their|strong="H0834" weapons|strong="H3627" and|strong="H1121" were|strong="H0834" ready for|strong="H3627" war|strong="H4421".
19 The|strong="H0559" five men|strong="H0376" answered|strong="H0559", “Be|strong="H1961" quiet! Don’t say|strong="H0559" a|strong="H1961" word|strong="H6310". Come|strong="H1961" with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H5921". Be|strong="H1961" our|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" and|strong="H3478" our|strong="H5921" priest|strong="H3548". You|strong="H5921" must choose. Is|strong="H0376" it|strong="H7760" better|strong="H2896" for|strong="H5921" you|strong="H5921" to|strong="H0559" be|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" priest|strong="H3548" for|strong="H5921" just one|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0376" or|strong="H0176" for|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" whole tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H1004" Israelites|strong="H3478" with|strong="H5973" many family|strong="H4940" groups?”
20 This|strong="H0935" made|strong="H3190" the|strong="H0853" Levite happy|strong="H3190". So|strong="H3947" he|strong="H0853" took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" ephod|strong="H0646", the|strong="H0853" household|strong="H8655" idols|strong="H8655", and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" idol|strong="H6459". He|strong="H0853" went|strong="H0935" with|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H5971" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" tribe of|strong="H3820" Dan.
21 Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" 600 men from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" tribe of|strong="H6440" Dan and|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" Levite priest turned|strong="H6437" and|strong="H6440" left Micah’s house. They|strong="H6440" put|strong="H7760" their|strong="H7760" little|strong="H2945" children|strong="H2945", their|strong="H7760" animals, and|strong="H6440" all their|strong="H7760" things in|strong="H6440" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H6440" them|strong="H0853".
22 The|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" tribe of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" went|strong="H7368" a|strong="H0834" long way from|strong="H0376" that|strong="H0834" place|strong="H1004". But|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0376" living|strong="H0376" near|strong="H5973" Micah|strong="H4318" met together|strong="H2199". Then|strong="H0853" they|strong="H1992" began chasing the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" and|strong="H1121" caught|strong="H5973" up|strong="H0853" with|strong="H5973" them|strong="H1992".
23 The|strong="H0559" men|strong="H1121" with|strong="H0413" Micah|strong="H4318" were|strong="H1121" shouting|strong="H2199" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835". The|strong="H0559" men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" turned|strong="H5437" around|strong="H5437" and|strong="H1121" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Micah|strong="H4318", “What’s|strong="H4100" the|strong="H0559" problem? Why|strong="H4100" are|strong="H4100" you|strong="H3588" shouting|strong="H2199"?”
24 Micah answered|strong="H0559", “You|strong="H0834" men|strong="H3947" from|strong="H3947" Dan took|strong="H3947" my|strong="H3947" idols. I|strong="H0834" made|strong="H6213" them|strong="H0413" for|strong="H0413" myself. You|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" also|strong="H0853" taken|strong="H3947" my|strong="H3947" priest|strong="H3548". What|strong="H4100" do|strong="H6213" I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" left|strong="H5750" now|strong="H2088"? How|strong="H4100" can|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0834" ask|strong="H0559" me|strong="H0413", ‘What’s|strong="H2088" the|strong="H0853" problem?’”
25 The|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" tribe of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" answered|strong="H0559", “You|strong="H5973" had|strong="H0376" better not|strong="H0408" argue with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H0413". Some|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" our|strong="H8085" men|strong="H0376" become angry easily. If|strong="H0376" you|strong="H5973" shout|strong="H6963" at|strong="H0413" us|strong="H0413", they|strong="H0376" will|strong="H0376" attack|strong="H6293" you|strong="H5973". You|strong="H5973" and|strong="H1121" your|strong="H8085" families|strong="H1004" will|strong="H0376" be|strong="H0408" killed.”
26 Then|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3588" men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" turned|strong="H6437" around|strong="H7725" and|strong="H1121" went|strong="H7725" on|strong="H0413" their|strong="H1992" way|strong="H1870". Micah|strong="H4318" knew that|strong="H3588" these|strong="H1992" men|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1121" too|strong="H4480" strong|strong="H2389" for|strong="H3588" him|strong="H0413", so|strong="H4480" he|strong="H3588" went|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" home|strong="H1004".
27 So|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H5971" of|strong="H5921" Dan took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" idols|strong="H6310" that|strong="H0834" Micah|strong="H4318" made|strong="H6213". They|strong="H1992" also|strong="H0853" took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" priest|strong="H3548" who|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H1961" with|strong="H8313" Micah|strong="H4318". Then|strong="H1961" they|strong="H1992" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Laish. They|strong="H1992" attacked|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" living in|strong="H5921" Laish. Those|strong="H0834" people|strong="H5971" were|strong="H0834" at|strong="H5921" peace|strong="H8252". They|strong="H1992" were|strong="H0834" not|strong="H1961" expecting an|strong="H1961" attack|strong="H5221". The|strong="H0853" men|strong="H5971" of|strong="H5921" Dan killed|strong="H5221" them|strong="H1992" with|strong="H8313" their|strong="H1992" swords|strong="H2719" and|strong="H0935" then|strong="H1961" burned|strong="H8313" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892".
28 The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0120" living|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Laish did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0369" have|strong="H0834" anyone|strong="H0120" to|strong="H0369" rescue|strong="H5337" them|strong="H0853". They|strong="H0834" lived|strong="H3427" too far|strong="H7350" from|strong="H5337" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1697" Sidon|strong="H6721" for|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0120" there|strong="H0369" to|strong="H0369" help. And|strong="H0120" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0120" of|strong="H1697" Laish did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0369" have|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0369" agreements with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0120" of|strong="H1697" Aram—so|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H0369" help them|strong="H0853". The|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1697" Laish was|strong="H0369" in|strong="H3427" a|strong="H3588" valley|strong="H6010", which|strong="H0834" belonged to|strong="H0369" the|strong="H0853" town|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1697" Beth Rehob. The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0120" from|strong="H5337" Dan built|strong="H1129" a|strong="H3588" new city|strong="H5892" in|strong="H3427" that|strong="H0834" place, and|strong="H0120" it|strong="H1931" became|strong="H1697" their|strong="H3588" home.
29 The|strong="H0834" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H3205" Dan|strong="H1835" gave|strong="H3205" the|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" a|strong="H3205" new name|strong="H8034". That|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H0834" called|strong="H7121" Laish, but|strong="H0199" they|strong="H0834" changed the|strong="H0834" name|strong="H8034" to|strong="H3478" Dan|strong="H1835". They|strong="H0834" named|strong="H8034" the|strong="H0834" city|strong="H5892" after|strong="H8034" their|strong="H0834" ancestor Dan|strong="H1835", one|strong="H7223" of|strong="H3205" the|strong="H0834" sons|strong="H3205" of|strong="H3205" Israel|strong="H3478".
30 The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" set|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" the|strong="H0853" idol|strong="H6459" in|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835". They|strong="H3117" made|strong="H1961" Jonathan|strong="H3129" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Gershom|strong="H1647" their|strong="H1961" priest|strong="H3548". Gershom|strong="H1647" was|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Moses. Jonathan|strong="H3129" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H1961" sons|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1961" priests|strong="H3548" for|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H1121" Dan|strong="H1835" until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0853" time|strong="H3117" when|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" Israelites were|strong="H1961" taken|strong="H1961" into|strong="H1540" captivity|strong="H1540".
31 The|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H1004" Dan set|strong="H7760" up|strong="H7760" for|strong="H1004" themselves|strong="H7760" the|strong="H3605" idol|strong="H6459" that|strong="H0834" Micah|strong="H4318" had|strong="H0834" made|strong="H6213". That|strong="H0834" idol|strong="H6459" was|strong="H1961" there|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" whole|strong="H3605" time|strong="H3117" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" house|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" God|strong="H0430" was|strong="H1961" in|strong="H0430" Shiloh|strong="H7887".