Judges 18

Those of the tribe of Dan having not sufficient inheritance send forth five men to spy out a place verse 1 these in their travelling come to the house of Micha and desire the Levite to ask counsel of God touching their journey 2 having received the answer they spy out the city Lais and make report thereof unto their brethren whom they instigate to set upon the city7 whereupon six hundred armed Danites march forth and by the way cease upon Micha’s priest and idols 11 Micha in vain demandeth again 22 they pull down build up again and inhabit Lais and call it Dan 27 consencrate a priest and set up idolatry with the images of Micha,30.

1. In those days there was king in Israel [see chapter 17 on verse 6 this was the cause that those of the tribe of Dan where fain to shift for themselves whereas the tribe formerly assisted one another to provide for everyone a convenient and sufficient inheritance according to the command of Moseh Numbers 32:21,22 &c. Joshua 22:2,3 and above chapter 1.3] and in the same days did the tribe of Dan seek for themselves an inheritance to dwell in fro unto that day there was not sufficient fallen to them for inheritance among the tribes of Israel [viz. neither by lot in the life time of Joshua nor afterwards by order of supreme authority or assistance of other tribes their inheritance indeed was fallen to them under Joshua but it was too little see Joshua 19:47 where is here related in brief what is more largely described.]

2. So the children of Dan sent five out of the their family out of their cities [others from other uttermost that is both of high and low estate degree] men that were warlike from Zoar and from Esthaol [see above chapter 13 on verse 2, 25] to spy out the land and search it and they said unto them go and search the land and thecae unto mount Ephraim to the house of Micah [see chapter 17. 1&c.] and overnighter there.

3. Being near the house of Micah they knew the voice of the young man the Levite [see above chapter 17.7 &c. it may be that they being lodged in some inn or tarven hard by as commonly inns tarvens and Alehouses were wont to be seated near such idol houses because of the concourse of people desirous of news and superstitiously given heard him sing or speak not as an Ephraimite but as a Jew in gods house of Micha] and they turned in this the [viz. into the house of Micha]and said unto him who hath brought the thee thither and what makest thou here and what hast thou here ?

4. And he said unto them thus and thus Micha done to me and he had hired me and I am a priest unto him.

5. Then said they unto him ask counsel we pray thee of God [so they call the idolatry of false Ephod and of the images whereof the Levite had told and was well remembered of them see below verse 14 and above chapter 17 on verse 5] that we may know whether our way whereon we walk shall be prosperous.

6. And the Priest said unto them [viz. after that he had according to his manner he asked counsel of the idols] go in peace your way which ye shall go is before the Lord [as if ye had said these eyes of the Lord as the holy scripture also speaketh are open upon your design and this your journey to direct and prosper the same the Lord taketh care of it thus the bodily and presumptously abused the name of the Lord in his idolatrous practice .]

7. Then those five men went their ways, and came unto Lais: [See below v.28.] and they saw the people which was in the midst thereof, lying in security, [Or, dwelling in security. Understand, that the city of Lais lay in a very safe secure place, out of all danger of any in rode or invasion, according to their own and the common opinion. Others applying this unto the inhabitants, whereof is spoken in the following words] after the manner of the Zidonians, being quiet and secure, [Hebrew. Confident; i.e. being secure and careless] and was no Lord of inheritance, [oth. no man that offered (them) any Ignominy or disgrace, (also none) that possessed the Government hereditarily. Some apply this unto the people, that they had a Republic or Commonwealth free from inheritance. Hebrew, Possessing hereditarily the government, or, the highest command or constraints. It seemeth that they took some times one, sometimes another to be their ruler or Governor, who would not displease the Subjects, but let them have their wills in all things. Or perhaps they might have lived without any magistrate or Ruler at all] that put (any man) to shame for any thing in that land: [i.e. that durst put shame and disgrace upon man or any offence committed, so that every one did what he listed; their sins in that respect being ripe for judgment] they were also far from the Zidonians, [so that they would not come to help them, as lying too far westward on the sea] and had no business with no man. [Hebrew. They had no word, thing, or, nothing with one man; i.e. neither league, nor commerce, nor converse with any man, but lived for themselves in all security and voluptuousness]

8. And they came unto their brethren at Zora, and at Esthaol, and their brethren said unto them, What (say) ye?

9. And they said, Arise, and let us go up to them, for we have seen that land, and behold, it is very good: should ye then be still? [without saying or doing anything, or taking any thing in hand? Hebrew. Be silent. See of the use of such words, above chapter.16.2. Exodus.14.14. 1 King. 22.3. Psalm.28.1. with the Annot. There] be not slothful to go, that ye may come in thither, to take the land in hereditary possession.

10. (When ye come thither, then ye shall come to a careless people, and that land is large in compass) [Hebrew. Wide in hands, or sides: see this phrase Genesis.34. on v.21.] for God had given it unto your hand: a place, where there is no want of any thing that is on the earth.

11. Then there journey from thence out of the family of the Danites, from Zora and from Esthoal, six hundred men, girt about with weapons of war.

12. And they went up, and camped themselves by Kiriath-Jearim, [Otherwise called Kiriath-Baal: see Joshua. 5.60. lying upon a mountain at the uttermost borders of Judah and Dan, toward the north] in Judah: therefore they called this place Machane-Dan [i.e. the camp of Dan: see above chapter.13.25.] unto this day. Behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim.

13. And from thence they passed thorough unto the mountain of Ephraim, and they come unto the house of Micah. [See above chapter.17.1.]

14. Then answered [i.e. they spake, began to spake, began to speak: so is the same word also elsewhere used; see 1 Samuel.14. v.29. 1 Kings 1:28. & 13.7. 2 Chronicles 29:31. Ezra 10:2. Isa.14.10. and in the New Testament, Matthew.11.25. & 17.4. & 22.1. & 28.5. Acts 5 8. & 10.47. & 15.13. Rev.7.13.] the five men, [see above v.2, etc.] that were gone to spy out the land of Lais, and said unto their brethren, Do ye also know, that there is in those houses [i.e. in one of those houses: see above cha.11 on v.7.] an Ephod, [as above chapter.17.5.] and Teraphim, [as above chapter.17.5.] and a carved and a molten image: [see above chapter, 17. On v.3.] Now therefore know what ye have to do. [i.e. advise wether it be not good to take all these along with us, to use them in the place where we shall come, as in our former journey we asked counsel by them of God: see above v.5.]

15. Then [viz. after they had concluded to take away all these instruments of Idolatry] turned they thither, and came to the house of the young man [of whom chapter 17.7.] the Levite, to the house of Micah: and they asked him [viz. when he was called forth, or by the five men was brought to the gate] concerning peace. [i.e. touching his welfare, how he did, wether he was yet in good health, etc. See Genesis.37. on verse. 14. And Exodus.18.7.]

16. And the six hundred men, which were of the children of Dan, girt about with their weapons of war, tarried at the door of the gate.

17. But the five men that were gone to spy out the land; went up, came in thither, took away the carved image, [Or this carved, and the other molten image, see chapter.17. on v.3.] and the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the molten image, now the Priest tarried at the door of the gate, with the six hundred men that were girt about with weapons of war.

18. Now then they [viz. the five men] were entered into the house of Micha, and had taken away the carved image, the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the molten image: then the Priest said unto them, What do ye?

19. And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth. [That is (as we use to say) Hold thy mouth close, restrain it, do not gainsay, make no noise. See this phrase Job 21:5. & 29.9. & 39.37 Proverb.30.32. Micha.7.16.] and go with us, and be to us a father, and a priest: is it better that thou be a priest for the house of one man, or that thou be priest for a tribe, and a family in Israel? [intimating, that he should greatly better his condition, and have cause to rejoice in it]

20. Then the heart of the priest waxed glad, [A clear sign and demonstration of a parasite, that was all for the belly, and did all for gain and worldly honor; Hebrew. Good, as above chapter.16,25.] and he took the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the carved image, and he came into the midst of the people.

21. So they turned themselves, and went on: and they put the children, and the cattie, and the baggage [Or, carriage; or, also their precious commodities, as their treasure, gold, silver, jewels, etc.] before them. [that they might be out of danger and gun-shot (as we say) and not be in their way, if any one should fall upon their rear, to fetch back that which was stolen and plundered.]

22. Now when they were gone a good way off from Micah’s house, then were gathered together the men that were in the houses which were near Micah’s house, [i.e. which dwelt near and about him, the whole neighborhood were meet also together] and ever took the children of Dan.

23. And they called after the children of Dan; who turned their faces about, and said unto Micha, What aileth thee, that ye are assembled together?

24. Then said he, ye have taken away my Gods, which I had made, together with the Priest, and are gone away: What have I now more? [Intimting, as a blinded idolater, that they had berest him of that which was most near and dear unto him] what is it then that ye say to me, what ailest thou?

25. But the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, left perhaps men of bitter mind [Hebrew. Bitter of soul; i.e. whose mind or stomach is embittered, or bitterly incensed against thee: so 2 Samuel.17.8. Sometimes this phrase signifieth grieved in spirit, as 1 Samuel.1.10. Proverb.31.5, etc.] fall upon thee, and thou lose thy life, and the life of thy house. [Hebrew. Gather thy soul, and the soul of thy house; i.e. and thy household perish, or die. Compare Psalms.26. on v.9.]

26. So the children of Dan went their way: and Micha perceiving that they were stronger then he, turned himself about, and came back to his house.

27. Then they [viz. the Danites] took that which Micha had made, and the Priest whom he had, and came to Lais, to a quiet [Hebrew. Resting, or, being quiet and confident; as above v.7.] and secure people, and smote them with the edge of thje sword: [Hebrew. The mouth of the sword] and they burnt the city with fire.

28. And there was no man that delivered it: for it [viz. the city of Lais] was far from Zidon, [lying aside from Zidon eastward, close by mount Libanon, where the two fountains, Jor and Dan, running into one, make the Jordan. See further Genesis.14. on v.14. Josua.19. on v.47.] and they [to wit, the inhabitants: see verse.7.] had no dealing with any man; and it [viz. the city] (lay) in the valley, which is by Beth-rechob: [Compare 2 Samuel.10 6,8.] afterward they [that is the Danites] rebuilt the city and dwealt therein.

29. And they called the name of the city Dan after the name of the Dan their father who was born in Israel [that is Jacob see Genesis 30:6.] how be it the name of his city was formerly Lais.

30. And the children of Dan set up before that carved image [see above verse 14,17 and chapter 17.3] and Jonathan [of whom above chapter 16.7 &c.] the son of Gesom the son of Mannaseh he and his sons were priests for the tribe of Danites until that the land [that is the inhabitants of the land] was carried away captive [which as may be gathered from the following verse came to pass at the time when the Philistines smote Israel with a very great slaughter and carried away the ark of the Lord 1Samuel 4 verse 10,11,17 such great discomfitures were wont to be accompanied with a transportation or carrying away of many captives.]

31. So they set up among them the carved images of Micha which he had made all the days that the house of God was Silo [whither the house of God was brought in the time of Joshua, Joshua 18:1 the ark being carried away by the Philistines and sent back was brought to Kiriath Jearim 1Samuel 7.1,2 and all idols removed buy Samuel 1Samuel 7.3 ,4 amongst which without doubt was also this idol of Micha and of the Danites afterwards the ark was brought into Jerusalem by David 2 Samuel 6:16,17.]