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.

---

¹ In those days ^H3117 there was no king ^H4428 in Israel: ^H3478 and in those days ^H3117 the tribe ^H7626 of the Danites ^H1839 sought ^H1245 them an inheritance ^H5159 to dwell in; ^H3427 for unto that day ^H3117 all their inheritance ^H5159 had not fallen ^H5307 unto them among ^H8432 the tribes ^H7626 of Israel. ^H3478

² And the children ^H1121 of Dan ^H1835 sent ^H7971 of their family ^H4940 five ^H2568 men ^H582 from their coasts, ^H7098 men ^H1121 of valour, ^H2428 from Zorah, ^H6881 and from Eshtaol, ^H847 to spy ^H7270 out the land, ^H776 and to search ^H2713 it; and they said ^H559 unto them, Go, ^H3212 search ^H2713 the land: ^H776 who when they came ^H935 to mount ^H2022 Ephraim, ^H669 to the house ^H1004 of Micah, ^H4318 they lodged ^H3885 there.

³ When they were by the house ^H1004 of Micah, ^H4318 they knew ^H5234 the voice ^H6963 of the young man ^H5288 the Levite: ^H3881 and they turned in ^H5493 thither, and said ^H559 unto him, Who brought ^H935 thee hither? ^H1988 and what makest ^H6213 thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

⁴ And he said ^H559 unto them, Thus ^H2090 and thus ^H2090 dealeth ^H6213 Micah ^H4318 with me, and hath hired ^H7936 me, and I am his priest. ^H3548

⁵ And they said ^H559 unto him, Ask counsel, ^H7592 we pray thee, of God, ^H430 that we may know ^H3045 whether our way ^H1870 which we go ^H1980 shall be prosperous. ^H6743

⁶ And the priest ^H3548 said ^H559 unto them, Go ^H3212 in peace: ^H7965 before ^H5227 the LORD ^H3068 is your way ^H1870 wherein ye go. ^H3212

⁷ Then the five ^H2568 men ^H582 departed, ^H3212 and came ^H935 to Laish, ^H3919 and saw ^H7200 the people ^H5971 that were therein, ^H7130 how they dwelt ^H3427 careless, ^H983 after the manner ^H4941 of the Zidonians, ^H6722 quiet ^H8252 and secure; ^H982 and there was no magistrate ^{H3423 H6114} in the land, ^H776 that might put them to shame ^H3637 in any thing; ^H1697 and they were far ^H7350 from the Zidonians, ^H6722 and had no business ^H1697 with any man. ^H120

⁸ And they came ^H935 unto their brethren ^H251 to Zorah ^H6881 and Eshtaol: ^H847 and their brethren ^H251 said ^H559 unto them, What say ye?

⁹ And they said, ^H559 Arise, ^H6965 that we may go up ^H5927 against them: for we have seen ^H7200 the land, ^H776 and, behold, it is very ^H3966 good: ^H2896 and are ye still? ^H2814 be not slothful ^H6101 to go, ^H3212 and to enter ^H935 to possess ^H3423 the land. ^H776

¹⁰ When ye go, ^H935 ye shall come ^H935 unto a people ^H5971 secure, ^H982 and to a large ^H7342 land: ^H776 for God ^H430 hath given ^H5414 it into your hands; ^H3027 a place ^H4725 where there is no want ^H4270 of any thing ^H1697 that is in the earth. ^H776

¹¹ And there went ^H5265 from thence of the family ^H4940 of the Danites, ^H1839 out of Zorah ^H6881 and out of Eshtaol, ^H847 six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 appointed ^H2296 with weapons ^H3627 of war. ^H4421

¹² And they went up, ^H5927 and pitched ^H2583 in Kirjathjearim, ^H7157 in Judah: ^H3063 wherefore they called ^H7121 that place ^H4725 Mahanehdan ^H4265 unto this day: ^H3117 behold, it is behind ^H310 Kirjathjearim. ^H7157

¹³ And they passed ^H5674 thence unto mount ^H2022 Ephraim, ^H669 and came ^H935 unto the house ^H1004 of Micah. ^H4318

¹⁴ Then answered ^H6030 the five ^H2568 men ^H582 that went ^H1980 to spy out ^H7270 the country ^H776 of Laish, ^H3919 and said ^H559 unto their brethren, ^H251 Do ye know ^H3045 that there is ^H3426 in these houses ^H1004 an ephod, ^H646 and teraphim, ^H8655 and a graven image, ^H6459 and a molten image? ^H4541 now therefore consider ^H3045 what ye have to do. ^H6213

¹⁵ And they turned ^H5493 thitherward, and came ^H935 to the house ^H1004 of the young man ^H5288 the Levite, ^H3881 even unto the house ^H1004 of Micah, ^H4318 and saluted ^{H7592 H7965} him.

¹⁶ And the six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 appointed ^H2296 with their weapons ^H3627 of war, ^H4421 which were of the children ^H1121 of Dan, ^H1835 stood ^H5324 by the entering ^H6607 of the gate. ^H8179

¹⁷ And the five ^H2568 men ^H582 that went ^H1980 to spy out ^H7270 the land ^H776 went up, ^H5927 and came in ^H935 thither, and took ^H3947 the graven image, ^H6459 and the ephod, ^H646 and the teraphim, ^H8655 and the molten image: ^H4541 and the priest ^H3548 stood ^H5324 in the entering ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179 with the six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 that were appointed ^H2296 with weapons ^H3627 of war. ^H4421

¹⁸ And these went ^H935 into Micah's ^H4318 house, ^H1004 and fetched ^H3947 the carved image, ^H6459 the ephod, ^H646 and the teraphim, ^H8655 and the molten image. ^H4541 Then said ^H559 the priest ^H3548 unto them, What do ^H6213 ye?

¹⁹ And they said ^H559 unto him, Hold thy peace, ^H2790 lay ^H7760 thine hand ^H3027 upon thy mouth, ^H6310 and go ^H3212 with us, and be to us ^H1961 a father ^H1 and a priest: ^H3548 is it better ^H2896 for thee to be a priest ^H3548 unto the house ^H1004 of one ^H259 man, ^H376 or that thou be a priest ^H3548 unto a tribe ^H7626 and a family ^H4940 in Israel? ^H3478

²⁰ And the priest's ^H3548 heart ^H3820 was glad, ^H3190 and he took ^H3947 the ephod, ^H646 and the teraphim, ^H8655 and the graven image, ^H6459 and went in ^H935 the midst ^H7130 of the people. ^H5971

²¹ So they turned ^H6437 and departed, ^H3212 and put ^H7760 the little ones ^H2945 and the cattle ^H4735 and the carriage ^H3520 before ^H6440 them.

²² And when they were a good way ^H7368 from the house ^H1004 of Micah, ^H4318 the men ^H582 that were in the houses ^H1004 near to Micah's ^H4318 house ^H1004 were gathered together, ^H2199 and overtook ^H1692 the children ^H1121 of Dan. ^H1835

²³ And they cried ^H7121 unto the children ^H1121 of Dan. ^H1835 And they turned ^H5437 their faces, ^H6440 and said ^H559 unto Micah, ^H4318 What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? ^H2199

²⁴ And he said, ^H559 Ye have taken away ^H3947 my gods ^H430 which I made, ^H6213 and the priest, ^H3548 and ye are gone away: ^H3212 and what have I more? and what is this that ye say ^H559 unto me, What aileth thee?

²⁵ And the children ^H1121 of Dan ^H1835 said ^H559 unto him, Let not thy voice ^H6963 be heard ^H8085 among us, lest angry ^{H4751 H5315} fellows ^H582 run ^H6293 upon thee, and thou lose ^H622 thy life, ^H5315 with the lives ^H5315 of thy household. ^H1004

²⁶ And the children ^H1121 of Dan ^H1835 went ^H3212 their way: ^H1870 and when Micah ^H4318 saw ^H7200 that they were too strong ^H2389 for him, he turned ^H6437 and went back ^H7725 unto his house. ^H1004

²⁷ And they took ^H3947 the things which Micah ^H4318 had made, ^H6213 and the priest ^H3548 which he had, and came ^H935 unto Laish, ^H3919 unto a people ^H5971 that were at quiet ^H8252 and secure: ^H982 and they smote ^H5221 them with the edge ^H6310 of the sword, ^H2719 and burnt ^H8313 the city ^H5892 with fire. ^H784

²⁸ And there was no deliverer, ^H5337 because it was far ^H7350 from Zidon, ^H6721 and they had no business ^H1697 with any man; ^H120 and it was in the valley ^H6010 that lieth by Bethrehob. ^H1050 And they built ^H1129 a city, ^H5892 and dwelt ^H3427 therein.

²⁹ And they called ^H7121 the name ^H8034 of the city ^H5892 Dan, ^H1835 after the name ^H8034 of Dan ^H1835 their father, ^H1 who was born ^H3205 unto Israel: ^H3478 howbeit ^H199 the name ^H8034 of the city ^H5892 was Laish ^H3919 at the first. ^H7223

³⁰ And the children ^H1121 of Dan ^H1835 set up ^H6965 the graven image: ^H6459 and Jonathan, ^H3083 the son ^H1121 of Gershom, ^H1647 the son ^H1121 of Manasseh, ^H4519 he and his sons ^H1121 were priests ^H3548 to the tribe ^H7626 of Dan ^H1839 until the day ^H3117 of the captivity ^H1540 of the land. ^H776

³¹ And they set them up ^H7760 Micah's ^H4318 graven image, ^H6459 which he made, ^H6213 all the time ^H3117 that the house ^H1004 of God ^H430 was in Shiloh. ^H7887

---

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 `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 whole number, 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. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodged there.

³ When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

⁴ And he said unto them, Thus and thus hath Micah dealt with me, and he hath hired me, and I am become 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 Jehovah 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 in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put `them' to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings 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, and let us 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 in to possess the land.

¹⁰ When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and the land is large; for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.

¹¹ And there set forth from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

¹² And they went up, and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan, unto this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim.

¹³ And they passed thence unto the hill-country of 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 aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

¹⁶ And the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance 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 by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

¹⁸ And when these went into Micah's house, and fetched the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said unto them, What do ye?

¹⁹ And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be priest unto the house of one man, or to be 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 goods before them.

²² 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 are gone away, and what have I more? and how then say ye 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 fall upon you, 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 that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

²⁸ And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built the 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 for themselves the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

³¹ So they set them up Micah's graven image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

---

¹ In those days there is no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danite is seeking for itself an inheritance to inhabit, for `that' hath not fallen to it unto that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel by inheritance.

² And the sons of Dan send, out of their family, five men of them, men, sons of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to traverse the land, and to search it, and they say unto them, `Go, search the land;' and they come into the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodge there.

³ They `are' with the household of Micah, and they have discerned the voice of the young man, the Levite, and turn aside there, and say to him, `Who hath brought thee hither? and what art thou doing in this `place?' and what to thee here?'

⁴ And he saith unto them, `Thus and thus hath Micah done to me; and he hireth me, and I am to him for a priest.'

⁵ And they say to him, `Ask, we pray thee, at God, and we know whether our way is prosperous on which we are going.'

⁶ And the priest saith to them, `Go in peace; over-against Jehovah `is' your way in which ye go.'

⁷ And the five men go, and come in to Laish, and see the people which `is' in its midst, dwelling confidently, according to the custom of Zidonians, quiet and confident; and there is none putting to shame in the land in `any' thing, possessing restraint, and they `are' far off from the Zidonians, and have no word with `any' man.

⁸ And they come in unto their brethren, at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren say to them, `What -- ye?'

⁹ And they say, `Rise, and we go up against them, for we have seen the land, and lo, very good; and ye are keeping silent! be not slothful to go -- to enter to possess the land.

¹⁰ When ye go, ye come in unto a people confident, and the land `is' large on both hands, for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything which `is' in the land.'

¹¹ And there journey thence, of the family of the Danite, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.

¹² And they go up and encamp in Kirjath-Jearim, in Judah, therefore they have called that place, `Camp of Dan,' till this day; lo, behind Kirjath-Jearim.

¹³ And they pass over thence `to' the hill-country of Ephraim, and come in unto the house of Micah.

¹⁴ And the five men, those going to traverse the land of Laish, answer and say unto their brethren, `Have ye known that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and graven image, and molten image? and now, know what ye do.'

¹⁵ And they turn aside thither, and come in unto the house of the young man the Levite, the house of Micah, and ask of him of welfare, --

¹⁶ (and the six hundred men girded with their weapons of war, who `are' of the sons of Dan, are standing at the opening of the gate), --

¹⁷ yea, the five men, those going to traverse the land, go up -- they have come in thither -- they have taken the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image -- and the priest is standing at the opening of the gate, and the six hundred men who are girded with weapons of war --

¹⁸ yea, these have entered the house of Micah, and take the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest saith unto them, `What are ye doing?'

¹⁹ and they say to him, `Keep silent, lay thy hand on thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us for a father and for a priest: is it better thy being a priest to the house of one man, or thy being priest to a tribe and to a family in Israel?'

²⁰ And the heart of the priest is glad, and he taketh the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and goeth into the midst of the people,

²¹ and they turn and go, and put the infants, and the cattle, and the baggage, before them.

²² They have been far off from the house of Micah -- and the men who `are' in the houses which `are' near the house of Micah have been called together, and overtake the sons of Dan,

²³ and call unto the sons of Dan, and they turn round their faces, and say to Micah, `What -- to thee that thou hast been called together?'

²⁴ And he saith, `My gods which I made ye have taken, and the priest, and ye go; and what to me more? and what `is' this ye say unto me, What -- to thee!'

²⁵ And the sons of Dan say unto him, `Let not thy voice be heard with us, lest men bitter in soul fall upon you, and thou hast gathered thy life, and the life of thy household;'

²⁶ and the sons of Dan go on their way, and Micah seeth that they are stronger than he, and turneth, and goeth back unto his house.

²⁷ And they have taken that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and come in against Laish, against a people quiet and confident, and smite them by the mouth of the sword, and the city have burnt with fire,

²⁸ and there is no deliverer, for it `is' far off from Zidon, and they have no word with `any' man, and it `is' in the valley which `is' by Beth-Rehob; and they build the city, and dwell in it,

²⁹ and call the name of the city Dan, by the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; and yet Laish `is' the name of the city at the first.

³⁰ And the sons of Dan raise up for themselves the graven image, and Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, he and his sons have been priests to the tribe of the Danite, till the day of the removal of `the people' of the land.

³¹ And they appoint for them the graven image of Micah, which he had made, all the days of the house of God being in Shiloh.

---

¹ In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in; for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.

² So the Danites sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Esh'ta-ol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of E'phraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

³ When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; and they turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?"

⁴ And he said to them, "Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest."

⁵ And they said to him, "Inquire of God, we pray thee, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed."

⁶ And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD."

⁷ Then the five men departed, and came to La'ish, and saw the people who were there, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Sido'nians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth, and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sido'nians and had no dealings with any one.

⁸ And when they came to their brethren at Zorah and Esh'ta-ol, their brethren said to them, "What do you report?"

⁹ They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very fertile. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, and enter in and possess the land.

¹⁰ When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is broad; yea, God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."

¹¹ And six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set forth from Zorah and Esh'ta-ol,

¹² and went up and encamped at Kir'iath-je'arim in Judah. On this account that place is called Ma'haneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kir'iath-je'arim.

¹³ And they passed on from there to the hill country of E'phraim, and came to the house of Micah.

¹⁴ Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of La'ish said to their brethren, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, teraphim, a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you will do."

¹⁵ And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

¹⁶ Now the six hundred men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate;

¹⁷ and the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up, and entered and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.

¹⁸ And when these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"

¹⁹ And they said to him, "Keep quiet, put your hand upon your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and family in Israel?"

²⁰ And the priest's heart was glad; 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, putting the little ones and the cattle and the goods in front of them.

²² When they were a good way from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the Danites.

²³ And they shouted to the Danites, who turned round and said to Micah, "What ails you that you come with such a company?"

²⁴ And he said, "You take my gods which I made, and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, 'What ails you?'"

²⁵ And the Danites said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household."

²⁶ Then the Danites went their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

²⁷ And taking what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, the Danites came to La'ish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and burned the city with fire.

²⁸ And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any one. It was in the valley which belongs to Beth-rehob. And they rebuilt the city, and dwelt in it.

²⁹ And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was La'ish at the first.

³⁰ And the Danites set up the graven image for themselves; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

³¹ So they set up Micah's graven image which he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

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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 to that day [their] inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel.

² The children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land. They came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

³ When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside there, and said to him, Who brought you here? and what do you in this place? and what have you here?

⁴ He said to them, Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I am become his priest.

⁵ They said to him, Ask counsel, we pray you, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

⁶ The priest said to them, Go in peace: before Yahweh is your way wherein you go.

⁷ Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people who were therein, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.

⁸ They came to their brothers to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brothers said to them, What [say] you?

⁹ They said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are you still? don't be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.

¹⁰ When you go, you shall come to a people secure, and the land is large; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.

¹¹ There set forth from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

¹² They went up, and encamped in Kiriath Jearim, in Judah: therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan, to this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim.

¹³ They passed there to the hill-country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.

¹⁴ Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish answered, and said to their brothers, Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and an engraved image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what you have to do.

¹⁵ They turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

¹⁶ The six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.

¹⁷ The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

¹⁸ When these went into Micah's house, and fetched the engraved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, What do you?

¹⁹ They said to him, Hold your peace, lay your hand on your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?

²⁰ The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the engraved 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 goods before them.

²² When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

²³ They cried to the children of Dan. They turned their faces, and said to Micah, What ails you, that you come with such a company?

²⁴ He said, you have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and are gone away, and what have I more? and how then say you to me, What ails you?

²⁵ The children of Dan said to him, "Don't let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household."

²⁶ The children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

²⁷ They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

²⁸ There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lies by Beth Rehob. They built the city, and lived therein.

²⁹ They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel: however the name of the city was Laish at the first.

³⁰ The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

³¹ So they set them up Micah's engraved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

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¹ In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the Danites were looking for a heritage for themselves, to be their living-place; for up to that time no distribution of land had been made to them among the tribes of Israel.

² So the children of Dan sent five men from among their number, strong men, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to take a look at the land and make a search through it; and they said to them, Go and make a search through the land; and they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, where they made a stop for the night.

³ When they were near the house of Micah, hearing a voice which was not strange to them, that of the young Levite, they went out of their road to his place, and said to him, How did you come here? and what are you doing in this place? and why are you here?

⁴ And he said to them, This is what Micah did for me, and he gave me payment and I became his priest.

⁵ Then they said, Do get directions from God for us, to see if the journey on which we are going will have a good outcome.

⁶ And the priest said to them, Go in peace: your way is guided by the Lord.

⁷ Then the five men went on their way and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, living without thought of danger, like the Zidonians, quiet and safe; for they had everything on earth for their needs, and they were far from the Zidonians and had no business with Aram.

⁸ So they came back to their brothers in Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, What news have you?

⁹ And they said, Up! and let us go against Laish; for we have seen the land, and it is very good: why are you doing nothing? Do not be slow to go in and take the land for your heritage.

¹⁰ When you come there you will come to a people living without thought of danger; and the land is wide, and God has given it into your hands: a place where there is everything on earth for man's needs.

¹¹ So six hundred men of the Danites from Zorah and Eshtaol went out armed with instruments of war.

¹² And they went up and put up their tents in Kiriath-jearim in Judah: so that place is named Mahaneh-dan to this day. It is to the west of Kiriath-jearim.

¹³ From there they went on to the hill-country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

¹⁴ Then the five men who had gone to make a search through the country of Laish, said to their brothers, Have you knowledge that in these houses there is an ephod and family gods and a pictured image and a metal image? So now you see what to do.

¹⁵ And turning from their road they came to the house of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and said to him, Is it well with you?

¹⁶ And the six hundred armed men of the Danites took their places by the doorway.

¹⁷ Then the five men who had gone to make a search through the land, went in and took the pictured image and the ephod and the family gods and the metal image; and the priest was by the doorway with the six hundred armed men.

¹⁸ And when they went into Micah's house and took out the pictured image and the ephod and the family gods and the metal image, the priest said to them, What are you doing?

¹⁹ And they said to him, Be quiet; say nothing, and come with us and be our father and priest; is it better for you to be priest to one man's house or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?

²⁰ Then the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and the family gods and the pictured image and went with the people.

²¹ So they went on their way again, putting the little ones and the oxen and the goods in front of them.

²² When they had gone some way from the house of Micah, the men from the houses near Micah's house came together and overtook the children of Dan,

²³ Crying out to them. And the Danites, turning round, said to Micah, What is your trouble, that you have taken up arms?

²⁴ And he said, You have taken my gods which I made, and my priest, and have gone away; what is there for me now? Why then do you say to me, What is your trouble?

²⁵ And the children of Dan said to him, Say no more, or men of bitter spirit may make an attack on you, causing loss of your life and the lives of your people.

²⁶ Then the children of Dan went on their way; and when Micah saw that they were stronger than he, he went back to his house.

²⁷ And they took that which Micah had made, and his priest, and came to Laish, to a people living quietly and without thought of danger, and they put them to the sword without mercy, burning down their town.

²⁸ And they had no saviour, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with Aram; and it was in the valley which is the property of Beth-rehob. And building up the town again they took it for their living-place.

²⁹ And they gave the town the name of Dan, after Dan their father, who was the son of Israel: though the town had been named Laish at first.

³⁰ (And the children of Dan put up the pictured image for themselves; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of the Danites till the day when the ark was taken prisoner.)

³¹ And they put up for themselves the image which Micah had made, and it was there all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.