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.
2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valor, 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.
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?
4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
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.
6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
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.
8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
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.
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.
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.
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.
13 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
The book of Judges is the seventh book of the Old Testament in the KJV Holy Bible. It covers the time period between the death of Joshua and the rise of Samuel as a prophet and judge over Israel. The book of Judges is a collection of stories and accounts of the various judges who ruled over Israel during this time. These judges were chosen by God to deliver Israel from their enemies and to bring them back to the worship of the one true God. Each judge had a unique story and a specific role to play in the history of Israel.
Chapter 18 of the book of Judges is a continuation of the previous chapters, which focus on the tribe of Dan and their search for a new land to settle in. The tribe of Dan was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were given a portion of land in the promised land after the conquest of Canaan. However, they were not satisfied with their allotted territory and decided to look for a new land to conquer and settle in.
The chapter begins by introducing us to a man named Micah, who had stolen silver from his mother and then returned it out of guilt. In return, his mother used the silver to make an idol and set up a shrine in their home. Micah then made one of his sons a priest to serve at the shrine. This act of idolatry was a direct violation of God's commandment to worship Him alone.
While the tribe of Dan was searching for a new land to settle in, they came across Micah's house and the shrine. The five men sent to spy out the land recognized the Levite serving as a priest at the shrine and asked him to inquire of God on their behalf. The Levite, who was not a true priest, but had been appointed by Micah, told them that God had given them His blessing and that they would be successful in their conquest.
After receiving this false affirmation from the Levite, the men from the tribe of Dan went on to conquer the city of Laish, which they renamed Dan. They then installed the Levite and his idol as their priest and god, and the people of Dan worshipped them.
Overall, the main themes of this chapter are the consequences of idolatry, the importance of seeking God's will, and the need for true spiritual leadership. The story of Micah and the tribe of Dan serves as a warning against the dangers of turning away from God and worshipping idols. It also highlights the consequences of seeking guidance from false prophets and spiritual leaders.
The story of Micah and the tribe of Dan is a clear example of the consequences of idolatry. The people of Israel had been commanded by God to worship Him alone and to have no other gods before Him. However, Micah and his family, as well as the tribe of Dan, had turned away from God and set up their own idols to worship. This act of idolatry not only angered God but also led to a chain of events that brought destruction and chaos to the people of Israel.
Idolatry is not just the worship of false gods, but it also includes anything that we put before God in our lives. It could be money, possessions, relationships, or even our own desires and ambitions. When we put these things before God, we are essentially making them our idols and turning away from the one true God. This chapter serves as a reminder that idolatry is a serious sin with severe consequences.
In this chapter, we see the tribe of Dan seeking guidance from a false priest instead of seeking God's will. The Levite that Micah had appointed as a priest was not a true priest, and he had no authority to speak on behalf of God. Yet, the men from the tribe of Dan believed his words and used them as justification for their actions.
As believers, it is crucial to seek God's will in all aspects of our lives. We cannot rely on our own understanding or on the words of false prophets. Instead, we must seek guidance from God through prayer and studying His Word. Only then can we be certain that we are following His will and not falling into the trap of false teachings and idols.
In this chapter, we also see the consequences of not having true spiritual leadership. The Levite that Micah had appointed as a priest was not a true priest, and he had no authority to lead the people of God. As a result, the tribe of Dan fell into idolatry and worshipped false gods. This highlights the importance of having true spiritual leaders who are called and anointed by God to guide His people.
True spiritual leaders are those who follow God's will and teachings, and who lead others to do the same. They are not appointed by man, but by God Himself. In the absence of true spiritual leaders, people are vulnerable to false teachings and idolatry, as we see in this chapter. As believers, we must pray for and support the true spiritual leaders in our communities, and we must also strive to be true spiritual leaders ourselves.
Chapter 18 of the book of Judges serves as a reminder of the consequences of idolatry, the importance of seeking God's will, and the need for true spiritual leadership. It also shows the downward spiral that can occur when people turn away from God and His commandments.
The story of Micah and the tribe of Dan is a cautionary tale for believers today. It warns us against the dangers of idolatry and false teachings, and it reminds us of the importance of seeking God's will in all aspects of our lives. It also highlights the need for true spiritual leaders who will guide us in the right direction and keep us from falling into the trap of idolatry.
Furthermore, this chapter also serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Despite the sin and disobedience of the people of Israel, God remained faithful to His promise to deliver them and bring them back to Him. He also used this situation to bring about His ultimate plan for the tribe of Dan, as they would eventually become the home of one of the twelve apostles, Peter.
In conclusion, chapter 18 of the book of Judges is a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of seeking His will. It also emphasizes the need for true spiritual leadership and the faithfulness of God even in the midst of our disobedience. As believers, we must heed the lessons from this chapter and strive to always put God first in our lives.
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