Judges 18

Judges 18:1

Danites sought] Their inheritance by lot is set down, Josh. XIX. 40. But they got it not all; through their own sinne and default, Iudg. I. 34. And their tribe being numerous, they sought out larger bounds, and more commodious habitations, Iosh. XIX. 47. And this, though mentioned in that text of Ishua, yet fell out after his death, and the death of those Elders that out-lived him; likely soone after, but surely before the dayes of Sampson.

Judges 18:2

Mount Ephraim] See the Observations on Josh. 2. XXIV. 1.

Judges 18:5

Ask counsel] These Danites, being superstitious Idolaters, ascribe thus much to this Levite, and to his Idolatrous Ephod, and Teraphim, and graven and molten Images, ver. 14, 17.

Judges 18:7

Laish] Laish very farre off from the body of the Tribe of Dan; that lying next to Simeon, and Judah, in the South-parts of the Land of Canaan, and this under Mount Libanon, by Asher, and Naphtali, in the North-bounds. This Citie first burnt, and after rebuilt by these Danites, they then called Dan; which is taken as the North-bound of the Land of Canaan, as Ch. XX. 1. 1 Sam. III. 20. 2 Sam. III. 10. and elsewhere. And here Jeroboam did set up one of his golden Calves, 1 King. XII. 29.

Judges 18:30

Jonathan] A Levite the great grandchilde of Moses, though borne in Bethlehem-Judah; and so, as of the family of Judah, Ch. XVII. 7. And though a Levite, yet taken and used as a Priest; and consecrated thereunto by Micah an Ephraimitie, ver. 1, 12. Who likewise had consecrated one of his owne sons to become his Priest, ver. 5. And this Jonathan forced to seeke and shift for his maintenance and livelihood; and to accept of one so poore and base, ver. 10. All this bespeaks the sad and lamentable condition and coufusion of those times wherein they lived.

Captivity of the Land] This Idolatry of the Danites, in this Citie Dan, continued untill the day of the Captivity of the Land; that is, as it is explained, ver. 31. all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh, till the Philistines took the Arke, 1 Sam. IV. Psalme LXXVIII. 60, 61. which was at the death of Eli.