Thematic Bible
Judges 18:1 (show verse)
In those days, there was no king in Israel, and the Danite tribe was looking for territory to occupy. Up to that time no territory had been captured by them among the tribes of Israel.
Judges 18:2 (show verse)
So the Danites sent out five brave men from all their clans, from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout out the land and explore it. They told them, “Go and explore the land.”
They came to the hill country of Ephraim as far as the home of Micah and spent the night there.
They came to the hill country of Ephraim as far as the home of Micah and spent the night there.
Judges 18:3 (show verse)
While they were near Micah’s home, they recognized the speech of the young Levite. So they went over to him and asked, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is keeping you here?”
Judges 18:4 (show verse)
He told them what Micah had done for him and that he had hired him as his priest.
Judges 18:5 (show verse)
Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God so we will know if we will have a successful journey.”
Judges 18:6 (show verse)
The priest told them, “Go in peace. The Lord is watching over the journey you are going on.”
Judges 18:7 (show verse)
The five men left and came to Laish. They saw that the people who were there were living securely, in the same way as the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. They were far from the Sidonians, having no alliance with anyone.
Armies » March in ranks » Of laish
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Magistrate » An officer of civil law
Phenicia » Called zidonians
Reconnoissance » Laish
sidon » A city » A city on the northern boundary of the canaanites » Inhabitants of, lived in security and without a worry
The Sidonians » Character of » Careless and secure
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Magistrate » An officer of civil law
Phenicia » Called zidonians
Reconnoissance » Laish
sidon » A city » A city on the northern boundary of the canaanites » Inhabitants of, lived in security and without a worry
The Sidonians » Character of » Careless and secure
Judges 18:8 (show verse)
When the men went back to their clans at Zorah and Eshtaol, their people asked them, “What did you find out?”
Judges 18:9 (show verse)
They answered, “Come on, let’s go up against them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why wait? Don’t hesitate to go and invade and take possession of the land!
Judges 18:10 (show verse)
When you get there, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has handed it over to you. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”
Judges 18:11 (show verse)
Six hundred Danites departed from Zorah and Eshtaol armed with weapons of war.
Judges 18:12 (show verse)
They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. This is why the place is called the Camp of Dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
Judges 18:13 (show verse)
From there they traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at Micah’s house.
Judges 18:14 (show verse)
The five men who had gone to scout out the land of Laish told their brothers, “Did you know that there are an ephod, household gods, and a carved image overlaid with silver in these houses? Now think about what you should do.”
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Ephod » A sacred vestment worn by the high priest » Made by gideon, became an idolatrous snare to israel
the Ephod » Used by idolatrous priests
Images » Other objects of worship » Teraphim, images, household gods
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
false Worship » Other objects of worship » Teraphim, images, household gods
FALSE » Other objects of worship » Teraphim, images, household gods
Ephod » A sacred vestment worn by the high priest » Made by gideon, became an idolatrous snare to israel
the Ephod » Used by idolatrous priests
Images » Other objects of worship » Teraphim, images, household gods
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
false Worship » Other objects of worship » Teraphim, images, household gods
FALSE » Other objects of worship » Teraphim, images, household gods
Judges 18:15 (show verse)
So they detoured there and went to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and greeted him.
Judges 18:16 (show verse)
The 600 Danite men were standing by the entrance of the gate, armed with their weapons of war.
Judges 18:17 (show verse)
Then the five men who had gone to scout out the land went in and took the carved image overlaid with silver, the ephod, and the household idols, while the priest was standing by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.
Business life » Dishonesty » Examples of
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Dishonesty » Examples of
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Vices » Dishonesty » Examples of
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Dishonesty » Examples of
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Vices » Dishonesty » Examples of
Judges 18:18 (show verse)
When they entered Micah’s house and took the carved image overlaid with silver, the ephod, and the household idols, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Judges 18:19 (show verse)
They told him, “Be quiet. Keep your mouth shut. Come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or for you to be a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?”
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Silence » Keep » Men commanded to keep silent
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Silence » Keep » Men commanded to keep silent
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Judges 18:20 (show verse)
So the priest was pleased and took his ephod, household idols, and carved image, and went with the people.
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Dishonesty » Instances of » Micah's priest steals his images
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Teraphim » Used by micah, stolen by the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Judges 18:21 (show verse)
They prepared to leave, putting their small children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.
Judges 18:22 (show verse)
After they were some distance from Micah’s house, the men who were in the houses near it mobilized and caught up with the Danites.
Judges 18:23 (show verse)
They called to the Danites, who turned to face them, and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you mobilized the men?”
Judges 18:24 (show verse)
He said, “You took the gods I had made and the priest, and went away. What do I have left? How can you say to me, ‘What’s the matter with you?’”
Judges 18:25 (show verse)
The Danites said to him, “Don’t raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”
Judges 18:26 (show verse)
The Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were stronger than he was.
Judges 18:27 (show verse)
After they had taken the gods Micah had made and the priest that belonged to him, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people. They killed them with their swords and burned down the city.
Dan » Tribe of » Conquests by
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Took laish and called it dan
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Took laish and called it dan
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Plundered michah of his idols and his ephod
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Theft and thieves » Instances of » The spies of laish
Judges 18:28 (show verse)
There was no one to rescue them because it was far from Sidon and they had no alliance with anyone. It was in a valley that belonged to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it.
Judges 18:29 (show verse)
They named the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel. The city was formerly named Laish.
Judges 18:30 (show verse)
The Danites set up the carved image for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the Danite tribe until the time of the exile from the land.
Dan » Dan » Tribe of
Dan » Tribe of
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Set up micah's idols in dan
Gershom » A levite
Jonathan » A levite, son of gershom
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Manasseh » Moses, rv father of gershom
Tribe » Of dan
Dan » Tribe of
The tribe of Dan » A part of » Set up micah's idols in dan
Gershom » A levite
Jonathan » A levite, son of gershom
Jonathan » A levite of bethlehem, who becomes a priest for micah; accepts idolatry; joins the danites
Manasseh » Moses, rv father of gershom
Tribe » Of dan
Judges 18:31 (show verse)
So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image that he had made, and it was there as long as the house of God was in Shiloh.