Judges 18

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.

During that time, Israel had no king. The Danite tribe, still without a land to call their own among the tribes of Israel, were in search of a place to call home.

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.

The brave Danite clan sent five courageous men from Zorah and Eshtaol on a mission to explore the land. They were instructed, "Go, discover what the land holds." Upon reaching Mount Ephraim, they found shelter in Micah's home.

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?

When they reached Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned to him, curiosity piqued, and asked, "How did you end up here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?"

And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

He told them, "Micah treats me this way, he's employed me, and I serve as his priest."

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.

They pleaded with him, "Please, seek God's guidance for us. We need to know if the path we're taking will lead to success."

And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.

The priest reassured them, "Travel safely, for God himself guides your journey."

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.

The five men set off and arrived at Laish. They observed the people living there, carefree and peaceful, much like the Zidonians. There was no authority figure to reprimand them; they lived in isolation, far from the Zidonians, uninvolved in anyone's affairs.

And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

They reached their kin in Zorah and Eshtaol, who eagerly asked, "What news do you bring?"

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.

They urged, "Let's rise and confront them. We've seen the land, it's truly beautiful. Why are you waiting? Don't be lazy, let's go and claim it."

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.

As you journey, you'll find a peaceful people and a vast land. God has gifted this to you; a place where nothing on earth is lacking.

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.

From the family of Danites, six hundred brave men, armed for battle, set forth from Zorah and Eshtaol, their hearts filled with courage and determination.

And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

They journeyed and set up camp in Kirjathjearim, in Judah. They named that place Mahanehdan, a name it still holds today. Look, it's just beyond Kirjathjearim.

And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

They journeyed on, reaching the majestic Mount Ephraim, finally arriving at Micah's welcoming home.

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.

The five men who had scouted Laish turned to their brothers, their voices trembling with excitement. "Do you realize," they asked, "that these homes hold an ephod, idols, and carved and cast images? Think carefully about our next move."

And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

They journeyed towards the young Levite's home, Micah's place, and greeted him warmly.

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.

Six hundred brave warriors, sons of Dan, stood guard at the city gate, their weapons at the ready.

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.

The five men who had gone to spy out the land went up into the house. They seized the carved idol, the sacred ephod, the household gods, and the cast image. Meanwhile, the priest stood at the gateway with the six hundred armed men.

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?

They barged into Micah's home, seizing the sculpted idol, the sacred ephod, the household gods, and the cast image. The priest, shocked, asked, "What are you doing?"

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?

They pleaded with him, "Hush now, place your hand over your mouth and join us. Be our guide, our spiritual father. Isn't it more fulfilling to serve a whole community rather than just one man?"

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.

The priest's heart swelled with joy. He gathered the sacred garments, idols, and carved image, then joyfully joined the crowd.

So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

With heavy hearts, they turned away, leading their children, livestock, and belongings ahead of them.

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.

As they distanced themselves from Micah's home, the men from the neighboring houses rallied and caught up with Dan's children.

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?

Micah's men called out to Dan's descendants, who turned to face Micah and asked, "What's wrong, Micah? Why have you brought such a crowd?"

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?

He exclaimed, "You've stolen the gods I created and my priest, and left me. What else do I have? Why do you ask, 'What's wrong with you?'"

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.

The Danites warned him, "Stay quiet or else hot-headed men might attack you, risking your life and your family's."

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.

The children of Dan confidently continued on their journey. Micah, realizing their overwhelming strength, felt a pang of defeat. With a heavy heart, he retreated back to the safety of his home.

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.

They seized Micah's possessions and his priest, approaching the peaceful, unsuspecting people of Laish. With a brutal swing of their swords, they attacked them, setting their city ablaze.

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.

In their isolation, they found no savior, for they were distant from Zidon and had no dealings with anyone. Nestled in the valley near Bethrehob, they built a city, their new home.

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.

They named the city Dan, honoring their father Dan, a son of Israel. But before, the city was known as Laish.

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.

The descendants of Dan established an idol, and Jonathan, grandson of Manasseh, along with his sons, served as priests for the Dan tribe until the land was taken captive.

And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

While God's house resided in Shiloh, they erected Micah's carved idol, a creation of his own hands, stirring a sense of unease and defiance.