Judges 18:1-26

1At that time, Israel had no king to rule over them. The people of Dan's tribe were looking for some land where they could live. They had not yet taken the land that would be their home among Israel's tribes.

2So the men of Dan sent five soldiers from the clans of their tribe to explore the land. The leaders sent them out from Zorah and Eshtaol. They told them, ‘Go and find some land for us.’ The five men went into the hill country of Ephraim. They came to Micah's house and they stayed there for a night.

3While they were at Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. So they went in and they asked him, ‘Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?’

4He told them what Micah had done for him. He said, ‘He pays me to work for him as his priest.’

5So they said to him, ‘Please ask God if our journey will have a good result.’

6Micah's priest answered, ‘Yes, do not worry. The Lord will be with you on your journey.’

7So the five men continued on their journey. They arrived at Laish. They saw that it was a safe place to live. The people of Laish were not afraid of any trouble. They lived in peace, like the Sidonians do. Their land gave them everything that they needed, so they were rich. They lived a long way from the Sidonians, and there were no other people who would help them.

8The five men of Dan's tribe returned to Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, ‘What did you find?’

9They answered, ‘We should go now and attack them! We saw their land, and it is very good. Do not sit there and wait! Go quickly and take the land for yourselves.

10When you attack, you will see that the people there think that they are safe. Their land is very big and it has everything that we need. God will surely give it to you.’

11So 600 men of Dan's tribe prepared for the fight. They marched out from Zorah and Eshtaol with their weapons.

12On their way, they made their camp at Kiriath-Jearim in Judah. That place on the west side of Kiriath-Jearim is still called Mahaneh Dan.

13From there they travelled through the hill country of Ephraim. They arrived at Micah's house.

14The five men who had explored the land of Laish said to their relatives, ‘Do you know that in one of these houses there is an ephod, some small idols, an image and a metal idol. Think carefully and decide what to do.’

15So they went into Micah's house, where the young Levite was living. They said ‘hello’ to him.

16The 600 men of Dan stood at the gate with their weapons.

17The five men who had explored the land went inside. They took all the idols, the image and the priest's ephod. While they did that, the Levite priest was standing at the gate with the 600 soldiers.

18When the priest saw that the five men were taking the things from the house, he asked them, ‘What are you doing?’

19They said to him, ‘Be quiet! Do not say a word. Come with us. You will be our advisor and our priest. That will be much better for you. You will serve a whole Israelite tribe, instead of only one man's family.’

20So the priest was happy. He joined the group of men from Dan's tribe. He took the ephod, the idols and the image with him.

21They left Micah's house to continue their journey. They followed after their children, their animals and all their other things.

22After they had travelled some way, Micah realized what had happened. He brought together his neighbours and they chased after the men of Dan. When they reached them,

23they shouted to them. The men of Dan turned around and they said to Micah, ‘What is the problem? Why have you brought all these men?’

24Micah replied, ‘You have taken away the gods that I made. You have also taken my priest. Now I have nothing left. You should not ask me, “What is the problem?” ’

25The men of Dan said to Micah, ‘Do not argue with us! If you say any more, some of our men may become very angry. They might attack you. You and your family might all die!’

26Then the men of Dan continued on their journey. Micah realized that they were too strong for him. So he turned around and he went home.