New American Standard Bible 1995
Judges 18
Danites Seek Territory
1In thoseהָהֵ֔םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117thereH369was noH369kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478; andin thoseהָהֵ֗םha.HemH1992daysוּבַיָּמִ֣יםu.vai.ya.MimH3117the tribeשֵׁ֣בֶטShe.vetH7626of the Danitesהַדָּנִ֞יha.da.NiH1839was seekingמְבַקֶּשׁ־me.va.kesh-H1245an inheritanceנַֽחֲלָה֙na.cha.LahH5159for themselves to liveלָשֶׁ֔בֶתla.She.vetH3427in, for untilעַד־'ad-H5704that dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117an inheritanceבְּנַחֲלָֽה׃ סbe.na.cha.LahH5159had notbeen allottedנָ֨פְלָהNa.fe.lahH5307to them as a possessionH5159amongבְּתוֹךְ־be.tokh-H8432the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478.
2So the sonsH1121of Danדָ֣ן׀danH1835sentוַיִּשְׁלְח֣וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971from their familyמִֽמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּ֡םmi.mish.pach.TamH4940fiveחֲמִשָּׁ֣הcha.mi.ShahH2568menH376out of their wholeH7098numberH7098,valiantחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428menH376fromZorahמִצָּרְעָ֣הmi.tza.re.'AhH6881and Eshtaolוּמֵֽאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗לu.me.'esh.ta.'OlH847,to spyלְרַגֵּ֤לle.ra.GelH7270out the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776and to searchוּלְחָקְרָ֔הּu.le.cha.ke.RahH2713it; and they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to them, “Goלְכ֖וּle.KhuH1980,searchחִקְר֣וּchik.RuH2713the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776.”And they cameוַיָּבֹ֤אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935tothe hillהַר־har-H2022countryH2022of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669,to the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318,and lodgedוַיָּלִ֖ינוּvai.ya.Li.nuH3885thereשָֽׁם׃ShamH8033.
3When they were nearעִם־'im-H5973the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318,they recognizedהִכִּ֔ירוּhi.Ki.ruH5234the voiceק֥וֹלKolH6963of the youngהַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arH5288manH5288,the Leviteהַלֵּוִ֑יha.le.ViH3881;and they turnedH5493asideוַיָּס֣וּרוּvai.ya.Su.ruH5493thereשָׁ֗םShamH8033and saidוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “Whoמִֽי־mi-H4310broughtהֱבִיאֲךָ֣he.vi.'a.KhaH935you hereהֲלֹ֔םha.LomH1988?And whatוּמָֽה־u.mah-H4100are you doingעֹשֶׂ֛ה'o.SehH6213in thisבָּזֶ֖הba.ZehH2088place?And whatוּמַה־u.mah-H4100do you have hereפֹֽה׃FohH6311?”
5They saidוַיֹּ֥אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “Inquireשְׁאַל־she.'al-H7592of Godבֵאלֹהִ֑יםve.lo.HimH430,pleaseנָ֣אna'H4994,that we may knowוְנֵ֣דְעָ֔הve.Ne.de.'AhH3045whether our wayדַּרְכֵּ֔נוּdar.Ke.nuH1870on whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834we are goingהֹלְכִ֥יםho.le.KhimH1980will be prosperousהֲתַצְלִ֣יחַha.tatz.Li.achH6743.”
7Then the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568menH376departedוַיֵּלְכוּ֙vai.ye.le.KhuH1980and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935toLaishלָ֑יְשָׁהLa.ye.shahH3919and sawוַיִּרְא֣וּvai.yir.'UH7200the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834were in it livingיוֹשֶֽׁבֶת־yo.she.vet-H3427in securityלָ֠בֶטַחLa.ve.tachH983,after the mannerכְּמִשְׁפַּ֨טke.mish.PatH4941of the Sidoniansצִדֹנִ֜יםtzi.do.NimH6722,quietשֹׁקֵ֣ט׀sho.KetH8252and secureוּבֹטֵ֗חַu.vo.Te.achH982;for thereH369was noH369rulerיוֹרֵ֣שׁ עֶ֔צֶרyo.Resh 'E.tzerH3423H6114humiliatingמַכְלִ֨יםmakh.LimH3637themfor anythingדָּבָ֤רda.VarH1697in the landבָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ba.'A.retzH776,and they were farוּרְחֹקִ֥יםu.re.cho.KimH7350from the Sidoniansמִצִּ֣דֹנִ֔יםmi.Tzi.do.NimH6722and hadH369noH369dealingsוְדָבָ֥רve.da.VarH1697with anyoneאָדָֽם׃'a.DamH120.
9They saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Ariseק֚וּמָהKu.mahH6965,and let us goוְנַעֲלֶ֣הve.na.'a.LehH5927up againstעֲלֵיהֶ֔ם'a.lei.HemH5921them; for we have seenרָאִ֙ינוּ֙ra.'I.nuH7200the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,it is veryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966goodטוֹבָ֖הto.VahH2896. And will yousitH2814stillH2814?Do not delayתֵּעָ֣צְל֔וּte.'A.tze.LuH6101to goלָלֶ֥כֶתla.Le.khetH1980,to enterלָבֹ֖אla.Vo'H935,to possessלָרֶ֥שֶׁתla.Re.shetH3423the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.
10When you enterכְּבֹאֲכֶ֞םke.vo.'a.KhemH935,you will comeתָּבֹ֣אוּ׀ta.Vo.'uH935to a secureבֹּטֵ֗חַbo.Te.achH982peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971with a spaciousרַחֲבַ֣ת יָדַ֔יִםra.cha.Vat ya.Da.yimH7342H3027landוְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ve.ha.'A.retzH776;for Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430has givenנְתָנָ֥הּne.ta.NahH5414it into your handבְּיֶדְכֶ֑םbe.yed.KhemH3027,a placeמָקוֹם֙ma.kOmH4725whereשָׁ֣םshamH834H8033thereH369is noH369lackמַחְס֔וֹרmach.SorH4270of anythingכָּל־ דָּבָ֖רkol- da.VarH3605H1697that is on the earthבָּאָֽרֶץ׃ba.'A.retzH776.”
11Then from the familyמִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַתmi.mish.Pa.chatH4940of the Danitesהַדָּנִ֔יha.da.NiH1839,from Zorahמִצָּרְעָ֖הmi.tza.re.'AhH6881and from Eshtaolוּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑לu.me.'esh.ta.'OlH847,sixשֵֽׁשׁ־shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376armedחָג֖וּרcha.GurH2296with weaponsכְּלֵ֥יke.LeiH3627of warמִלְחָמָֽה׃mil.cha.MahH4421setוַיִּסְע֤וּvai.yis.'UH5265out.
12They wentוַֽיַּעֲל֗וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927up and campedוַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583at Kiriath-jearimH7157in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֑הbi.hu.DahH3063.Thereforeעַל־ כֵּ֡ן'al- kenH5921H3651they calledקָרְאוּ֩ka.re.'UH7121that placeלַמָּק֨וֹםla.ma.KomH4725Mahaneh-danH4265to thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117;beholdהִנֵּ֕הhi.NehH2009, it iswestאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310of Kiriath-jearimH7157.
Danites Take Micah’s Idols
14Then the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568menH376who wentהַהֹלְכִים֮ha.ho.le.KhimH1980to spyלְרַגֵּל֮le.ra.GelH7270out the countryהָאָ֣רֶץha.'A.retzH776of Laishלַיִשׁ֒la.YishH3919saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559to their kinsmenאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם'a.chei.HemH251, “Do you knowהַיְדַעְתֶּ֗םhay.da'.TemH3045that thereיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426are in theseהָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ha.'E.lehH428housesבַּבָּתִּ֤יםba.ba.TimH1004an ephodאֵפ֣וֹד'e.FodH646andhouseholdH8655idolsH8655and a gravenH6459imageוּפֶ֖סֶלu.Fe.selH6459and a moltenוּמַסֵּכָ֑הu.ma.se.KhahH4541imageH4541?Nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258therefore, considerדְּע֥וּde.'UH3045whatמַֽה־mah-H4100you should doתַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃ta.'a.SuH6213.”
15They turnedH5493asideוַיָּס֣וּרוּvai.ya.Su.ruH5493thereשָׁ֔מָּהSha.mahH8033and cameוַיָּבֹ֛אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to the houseבֵּֽית־beit-H1004of the youngהַנַּ֥עַרha.Na.'arH5288manH5288,the Leviteהַלֵּוִ֖יha.le.ViH3881,to the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֑הmi.KhahH4318,and askedוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־vai.yish.'a.lu-H7592him of his welfareלְשָׁלֽוֹם׃le.sha.LomH7965.
16The sixוְשֵׁשׁ־ve.shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376armedחֲגוּרִים֙cha.gu.RimH2296with their weaponsכְּלֵ֣יke.LeiH3627of warמִלְחַמְתָּ֔םmil.cham.TamH4421,whoאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834were of the sonsמִבְּנֵי־mi.be.nei-H1121of Danדָֽן׃DanH1835,stoodנִצָּבִ֖יםni.tza.VimH5324by the entranceפֶּ֣תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשָּׁ֑עַרha.Sha.'arH8179.
17Now the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568menהָאִ֔ישׁha.'IshH376who wentהַהֹלְכִים֮ha.ho.le.KhimH1980to spyלְרַגֵּ֣לle.ra.GelH7270out the landהָאָרֶץ֒ha.'a.RetzH776wentוַֽיַּעֲל֞וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927up andenteredבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935thereשָׁ֔מָּהSha.mahH8033, andtookלָקְח֗וּla.ke.ChuH3947the gravenH6459imageהַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ha.Pe.selH6459and the ephodהָ֣אֵפ֔וֹדha.'e.FodH646andhouseholdH8655idolsH8655and the moltenהַמַּסֵּכָ֑הha.ma.se.KhahH4541imageH4541,while the priestוְהַכֹּהֵ֗ןve.ha.ko.HenH3548stoodנִצָּב֙ni.TzavH5324by the entranceפֶּ֣תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשַּׁ֔עַרha.Sha.'arH8179with the sixוְשֵׁשׁ־ve.shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menH376armedהֶחָג֖וּרhe.cha.GurH2296with weaponsכְּלֵ֥יke.LeiH3627of warהַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ha.mil.cha.MahH4421.
18When theseוְאֵ֗לֶּהve.'E.lehH428wentבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935into Micah’sמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004and tookוַיִּקְחוּ֙vai.yik.ChuH3947the gravenH6459imageפֶּ֣סֶלPe.selH6459,the ephodהָאֵפ֔וֹדha.'e.FodH646andhouseholdH8655idolsH8655and the moltenהַמַּסֵּכָ֑הha.ma.se.KhahH4541imageH4541,the priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Whatמָ֥הmahH4100are you doingעֹשִֽׂים׃'o.SimH6213?”
19They saidוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩vai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “Be silentהַחֲרֵ֜שׁha.cha.ReshH2790,putשִֽׂים־sim-H7760your handיָדְךָ֤ya.de.KhaH3027overעַל־'al-H5921your mouthפִּ֙יךָ֙pi.khaH6310and comeוְלֵ֣ךְve.LekhH1980with us, and be to usa fatherלְאָ֣בle.'AvH1and a priestוּלְכֹהֵ֑ןu.le.kho.HenH3548.Is it betterהֲט֣וֹב׀ha.TovH2896for you to be a priestכֹהֵ֗ןkho.HenH3548to the houseלְבֵית֙le.VeitH1004of oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376,orא֚וֹ'oH176to be priestכֹהֵ֔ןkho.HenH3548to a tribeלְשֵׁ֥בֶטle.She.vetH7626and a familyוּלְמִשְׁפָּחָ֖הu.le.mish.pa.ChahH4940in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃be.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?”
20The priest’sהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548heartלֵ֣בlevH3820was gladוַיִּיטַב֙vai.yi.TavH3190,and he tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947the ephodהָ֣אֵפ֔וֹדha.'e.FodH646andhouseholdH8655idolsH8655and the gravenH6459imageהַפָּ֑סֶלha.Pa.selH6459and wentוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935amongבְּקֶ֥רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.
22When they had goneH7368someH7368distanceH7368from the houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֑הmi.KhahH4318,the menH376whoH834werein the housesבַּבָּתִּים֙ba.ba.TimH1004nearעִם־'im-H5973Micah’sמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004assembledנִֽזְעֲק֔וּniz.'a.KuH2199and overtookוַיַּדְבִּ֖יקוּvai.yad.Bi.kuH1692the sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָֽן׃DanH1835.
23They criedוַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙vai.yik.re.'UH7121to the sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָ֔ןDanH1835,who turnedוַיַּסֵּ֖בּוּvai.yas.Se.buH5437aroundפְּנֵיהֶ֑םpe.nei.HemH6440and saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to Micahלְמִיכָ֔הle.mi.KhahH4318, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100is the matterwith you, that you have assembledH2199togetherנִזְעָֽקְתָּ׃niz.'A.ke.taH2199?”
24He saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “You have takenלְקַחְתֶּ֧םle.kach.TemH3947away my godsאֱלֹהַי֩'e.lo.HaiH430whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I madeעָשִׂ֨יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213,and the priestהַכֹּהֵ֛ןha.ko.HenH3548,and have goneוַתֵּלְכ֖וּva.te.le.KhuH1980away, and whatוּמַה־u.mah-H4100do I have besidesע֑וֹדodH5750?So howוּמַה־ זֶּ֛הu.mah- zehH4100H2088can you sayתֹּאמְר֥וּto.me.RuH559to me, ‘Whatמַה־mah-H4100is the matter with you?’”
25The sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָ֔ןDanH1835saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “Do not let your voiceקוֹלְךָ֖kol.ChaH6963be heardתַּשְׁמַ֥עtash.Ma'H8085amongעִמָּ֑נוּ'i.Ma.nuH5973us, orH6435elseH6435fierceמָ֣רֵי נֶ֔פֶשׁMa.rei Ne.feshH4751H5315menH376will fallיִפְגְּע֣וּyif.ge.'UH6293upon you and you willloseוְאָסַפְתָּ֥הve.'a.saf.TahH622your lifeנַפְשְׁךָ֖naf.she.KhaH5315,with the livesוְנֶ֥פֶשׁve.Ne.feshH5315of your householdבֵּיתֶֽךָ׃bei.Te.khaH1004.”
26So the sonsבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Danדָ֖ןdanH1835wentוַיֵּלְכ֥וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980on their wayלְדַרְכָּ֑םle.dar.KamH1870;and when Micahמִיכָ֗הmi.KhahH4318sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that they were tooמִמֶּ֔נּוּmi.Me.nuH4480strongחֲזָקִ֥יםcha.za.KimH2389for him, he turnedוַיִּ֖פֶןvai.Yi.fenH6437and wentH7725backH7725to his houseבֵּיתֽוֹ׃bei.ToH1004.
27Then they tookלָקְח֜וּla.ke.ChuH3947whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Micahמִיכָ֗הmi.KhahH4318had madeעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213and the priestהַכֹּהֵן֮ha.ko.HenH3548whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834hadH1961belongedהָיָה־ha.yah-H1961to him, and cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935toLaishלַ֗יִשׁLa.yishH3919,to a peopleעַם֙'amH5971quietשֹׁקֵ֣טsho.KetH8252and secureוּבֹטֵ֔חַu.vo.Te.achH982,and struckוַיַּכּ֥וּvai.ya.KuH5221them with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719;and they burnedשָׂרְפ֥וּsa.re.FuH8313the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892with fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃va.'EshH784.
28And thereH369was noH369oneH369to deliverמַצִּ֜ילma.TzilH5337them,becauseכִּ֧יkiH3588it was farרְֽחוֹקָה־re.cho.kah-H7350from Sidonמִצִּיד֗וֹןmi.tzi.DonH6721and they hadH369noH369dealingsוְדָבָ֤רve.da.VarH1697with anyoneאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120,and it was in the valleyבָּעֵ֖מֶקba.'E.mekH6010whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834is nearBeth-rehobH1050.And they rebuiltוַיִּבְנ֥וּvai.yiv.NuH1129the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892and livedוַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּvai.Ye.she.vuH3427in it.
29They calledוַיִּקְרְא֤וּvai.yik.re.'UH7121the nameשֵׁם־shem-H8034of the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892Danדָּ֔ןDanH1835,after the nameבְּשֵׁם֙be.ShemH8034of Danדָּ֣ןdanH1835their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֔ם'a.vi.HemH1whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834was bornיוּלַּ֖דyu.LadH3205in Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478;howeverוְאוּלָ֛םve.'u.LamH199,the nameשֵׁם־shem-H8034of the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892formerlyלָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃la.ri.sho.NahH7223was Laishלַ֥יִשׁLa.yishH3919.
30The sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָ֖ןdanH1835setוַיָּקִ֧ימוּvai.ya.Ki.muH6965up for themselvesthe gravenH6459imageהַפָּ֑סֶלha.Pa.selH6459;and Jonathanוִ֠יהוֹנָתָןVi.ho.na.tonH3083,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofGershomגֵּרְשֹׁ֨םge.re.ShomH1647,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofManassehמְנַשֶּׁ֜הme.na.ShehH4519,he and his sonsוּבָנָ֗יוu.va.NavH1121were priestsכֹהֲנִים֙kho.ha.NimH3548to the tribeלְשֵׁ֣בֶטle.She.vetH7626of the Danitesהַדָּנִ֔יha.da.NiH1839untilעַד־'ad-H5704the dayי֖וֹםYomH3117of the captivityגְּל֥וֹתge.LotH1540of the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.
31So they setוַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760up for themselves Micah’sמִיכָ֖הmi.KhahH4318gravenH6459imageפֶּ֥סֶלPe.selH6459whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he had madeעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213,allכָּל־kol-H3605the timeיְמֵ֛יye.MeiH3117that thehouseבֵּית־beit-H1004of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430was at Shilohבְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ פbe.shi.LohH7887.
Commentaries on Judges 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries