Judges - Chapter 18

Judges 18.1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. Judges 18.2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there. Judges 18.3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? Judges 18.4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. Judges 18.5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. Judges 18.6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go. Judges 18.7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. Judges 18.8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye? Judges 18.9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. Judges 18.10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth. Judges 18.11 And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. Judges 18.12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim. Judges 18.13 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah. Judges 18.14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do. Judges 18.15 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him. Judges 18.16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. Judges 18.17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. Judges 18.18 And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? Judges 18.19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? Judges 18.20 And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. Judges 18.21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. Judges 18.22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. Judges 18.23 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? Judges 18.24 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? Judges 18.25 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. Judges 18.26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. Judges 18.27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. Judges 18.28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. Judges 18.29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. Judges 18.30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. Judges 18.31 And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges : Chapter 18

The Moral Decline of the Tribe of Dan in the Book of Judges

Judges chapter 18 continues the narrative of moral decline, focusing on the tribe of Dan. How does the quest for territory lead to idolatry? This intriguing text recounts the migration of the Danites, their theft of Micah's idols, and the establishment of their own city and idol worship. The chapter reveals the consequences of a lack of spiritual leadership and disobedience to God's will. Judges 18 illustrates how pragmatism can lead to spiritual commitment. Explore with us five biblical passages that shed light on the complex themes of this important chapter.

Deuteronomy 12:5

"But you shall seek him in the place which the Lord your God will choose out of all the tribes to write his name there and to make his dwelling place. There you must go." This verse contrasts with the actions of the tribe of Dan in Judges 18, who established their own place of worship against God's instructions.

1 Kings 12:28-29

"After consulting with his advisors, the king had two calves made of gold and said to the people, "It has been a long time since you went up to Jerusalem. These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt. He placed a calf in Bethel and another in Dan." This passage shows the long-term consequences of the idolatry established by the tribe of Dan in Judges 18.

Hosea 4:17

"Ephraim has joined himself to idols; forsake it!" This verse reflects the theme of idolatry present in Judges 18, where the tribe of Dan established idol worship.

Micah 2:1-2

"Woe to those who plot evil, to those who plot evil in their beds! When the dawn breaks, they carry it out, for that is what they can do. They covet the land and take possession of it; they covet houses and take them. They do violence to a man and his household, to him and his heirs." This passage reflects the unjust and violent actions of the tribe of Dan in Judges 18, who stole Micah's idol and took the city of Laish by force.

1 Timothy 6:10

"For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some people, because they coveted money, have departed from the faith and endured much suffering." This verse relates to the greedy motivation of the Levite in Judges 18, who abandoned his duty for a higher wage. Through these passages, we are invited to reflect on our own relationship with God and the dangers of idolatry in all its forms. May these reflections lead us to a renewed commitment to our faith and a sincere search for God's will.