The Danites' Migration and the Theft of Micah's Idols
Judges 18:1-31
1In those days there was no king in Israel. In those same days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in, because no inheritance had yet fallen to it among the tribes of Israel.2So the sons of Dan sent from their clan five men from their territory, men who were sons of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. They told them, Go and explore the land. The men came to the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at the house of Micah, where they spent the night.3While they were at the house of Micah they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside there and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"4He answered them, This is what Micah did for me: he hired me, and I became his priest.5They said to him, "Please inquire of God so that we may know whether the journey on which we are going will succeed."6The priest replied to them, Go in peace; the way you are going is before the LORD.7The five men departed and came to Laish. They saw that the people living there were dwelling securely after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, with no one in the land to humiliate them or to exercise authority. They were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.8When they returned to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "What do you say?"9They answered, Arise; let us go up against them, for we have seen the land and it is very good. Will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go and take possession of the land.10When you arrive you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands—a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the land.11Six hundred men from the clan of the Danites set out from there, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, armed for battle.12They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Because of this the place is still called Mahaneh-dan to this day; it lies west of Kiriath-jearim.13From there they passed through the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.14The five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish spoke up and said to their brothers, Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, teraphim, an idol, and a cast image? Now consider what you will do.15They turned aside and went to the house of the young Levite at the house of Micah and greeted him.16Meanwhile the six hundred armed men of the Danites stood at the entrance of the gate.17The five men who had spied out the land went up, entered, and took the idol, the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast image while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.18When these men entered the house of Micah and took the idol, the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"19They answered him, Be quiet. Put your hand over your mouth and come with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be priest to one man's household or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?20The priest's heart was glad, so he took the ephod, the teraphim, and the idol and went among the people.21They turned and departed, placing the children, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.22By the time they had gone some distance from the house of Micah, the men who lived in the houses near Micah's house were roused and overtook the sons of Dan.23They called out to the sons of Dan, who turned and faced them. "What is the matter with you?" they asked Micah. "That you have raised such an outcry?"24Micah replied, "You have taken the gods I made and the priest, and you have gone away. What do I have left? How then can you ask me, 'What is the matter with you?'"25The sons of Dan said to him, "Do not let us hear your voice, or else men of fierce temper will attack you and you will lose your life and the lives of your household."26So the sons of Dan continued on their way. Micah saw that they were too strong for him; he therefore turned and went back to his house.27They took what Micah had made along with the priest who had belonged to him, and they came against Laish, against a quiet and unsuspecting people. They put them to the sword and burned the city with fire.28There was no one to rescue them, because Laish was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone. The city lay in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and settled in it.29They named the city Dan after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel, although the city had formerly been called Laish.30The sons of Dan set up the idol for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom son of Manasseh and his sons served as priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day the land went into exile.31They kept for themselves the idol that Micah had made during all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh.