Revised Literal Translation

Judges 18

1In those daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117there wasno kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:and in those daysוּבַיָּמִ֣יםu.vai.ya.MimH3117the tribeשֵׁ֣בֶטShe.vetH7626of the Danitesהַדָּנִ֞יha.da.NiH1839soughtמְבַקֶּשׁ־me.va.kesh-H1245them an inheritanceנַֽחֲלָה֙na.cha.LahH5159to dwell inלָשֶׁ֔בֶתla.She.vetH3427;for unto that dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117all theirinheritanceבְּנַחֲלָֽה׃ סbe.na.cha.LahH5159had not fallenנָ֨פְלָהNa.fe.lahH5307unto them amongבְּתוֹךְ־be.tokh-H8432the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֥יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478.

2And the childrenבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Danדָ֣ן׀danH1835sentוַיִּשְׁלְח֣וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971of their familyמִֽמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּ֡םmi.mish.pach.TamH4940fiveחֲמִשָּׁ֣הcha.mi.ShahH2568menH582from their coastsמִקְצוֹתָם֩mik.tzo.TamH7098,menבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of valourחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428,from Zorahמִצָּרְעָ֣הmi.tza.re.'AhH6881,and from Eshtaolוּמֵֽאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗לu.me.'esh.ta.'OlH847,to spyלְרַגֵּ֤לle.ra.GelH7270out the landהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776,and to searchוּלְחָקְרָ֔הּu.le.cha.ke.RahH2713it; and they saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto them, GoH3212,searchחִקְר֣וּchik.RuH2713the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776:who when they cameוַיָּבֹ֤אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to mountהַר־har-H2022Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669,to the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318,they lodgedוַיָּלִ֖ינוּvai.ya.Li.nuH3885there.

3When they wereby the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318,they knewהִכִּ֔ירוּhi.Ki.ruH5234the voiceק֥וֹלKolH6963of the young manהַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arH5288the Leviteהַלֵּוִ֑יha.le.ViH3881:and they turned inוַיָּס֣וּרוּvai.ya.Su.ruH5493thither, and saidוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559unto him, Who broughtהֱבִיאֲךָ֣he.vi.'a.KhaH935thee hitherהֲלֹ֔םha.LomH1988?and what makestעֹשֶׂ֛ה'o.SehH6213thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

4And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, ThusH2090and thusH2090dealethעָ֥שָׂה'A.sahH6213Micahמִיכָ֑הmi.KhahH4318with me, and hath hiredוַיִּשְׂכְּרֵ֕נִיvai.yis.ke.Re.niH7936me, and I am his priestלְכֹהֵֽן׃le.kho.HenH3548.

5And they saidוַיֹּ֥אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559unto him, Ask counselשְׁאַל־she.'al-H7592,we pray thee, of Godבֵאלֹהִ֑יםve.lo.HimH430,that we may knowוְנֵ֣דְעָ֔הve.Ne.de.'AhH3045whether our wayדַּרְכֵּ֔נוּdar.Ke.nuH1870which we goהֹלְכִ֥יםho.le.KhimH1980shall be prosperousהֲתַצְלִ֣יחַha.tatz.Li.achH6743.

6And the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.HenH3548saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, GoH3212in peaceלְשָׁל֑וֹםle.sha.LomH7965:beforeנֹ֣כַחNo.khachH5227Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068isyour wayדַּרְכְּכֶ֖םdar.ke.KhemH1870wherein ye goH3212.

7Then the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568menהָאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582departedH3212,and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Laishלָ֑יְשָׁהLa.ye.shahH3919,and sawוַיִּרְא֣וּvai.yir.'UH7200the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971that werethereinבְּקִרְבָּ֣הּbe.kir.BahH7130,how they dweltיוֹשֶֽׁבֶת־yo.she.vet-H3427carelessלָ֠בֶטַחLa.ve.tachH983,after the mannerכְּמִשְׁפַּ֨טke.mish.PatH4941of the Sidoniansצִדֹנִ֜יםtzi.do.NimH6722,quietשֹׁקֵ֣ט׀sho.KetH8252and secureוּבֹטֵ֗חַu.vo.Te.achH982; and there wasno magistrateיוֹרֵ֣שׁ עֶ֔צֶרyo.Resh 'E.tzerH6114 H3423in the landבָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ba.'A.retzH776, that might put themto shameמַכְלִ֨יםmakh.LimH3637in anythingדָּבָ֤רda.VarH1697; and they werefarוּרְחֹקִ֥יםu.re.cho.KimH7350from the Sidoniansמִצִּ֣דֹנִ֔יםmi.Tzi.do.NimH6722,and had no businessוְדָבָ֥רve.da.VarH1697with anymanאָדָֽם׃'a.DamH120.

8And they cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto their brethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם'a.chei.HemH251to Zorahצָרְעָ֖הtza.re.'AhH6881and Eshtaolוְאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑לve.'esh.ta.'OlH847:and their brethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם'a.chei.HemH251saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto them, What say ye?

9And they saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,Ariseק֚וּמָהKu.mahH6965,that we may go upוְנַעֲלֶ֣הve.na.'a.LehH5927against them: for we have seenרָאִ֙ינוּ֙ra.'I.nuH7200the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776, and, behold, it isveryמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966goodטוֹבָ֖הto.VahH2896: and areye stillמַחְשִׁ֔יםmach.ShimH2814?be not slothfulתֵּעָ֣צְל֔וּte.'A.tze.LuH6101to goH3212, andto enterלָבֹ֖אla.Vo'H935to possessלָרֶ֥שֶׁתla.Re.shetH3423the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

10When ye goכְּבֹאֲכֶ֞םke.vo.'a.KhemH935,ye shall comeתָּבֹ֣אוּ׀ta.Vo.'uH935unto a peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971secureבֹּטֵ֗חַbo.Te.achH982,and to a largeרַחֲבַ֣תra.cha.VatH7342landוְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ve.ha.'A.retzH776:for Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430hath givenנְתָנָ֥הּne.ta.NahH5414it into your handsH3027;a placeמָקוֹם֙ma.kOmH4725where there isno wantמַחְס֔וֹרmach.SorH4270of any thingדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697that isin the earthבָּאָֽרֶץ׃ba.'A.retzH776.

11And there wentוַיִּסְע֤וּvai.yis.'UH5265from thence of the familyמִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַתmi.mish.Pa.chatH4940of the Danitesהַדָּנִ֔יha.da.NiH1839,out of Zorahמִצָּרְעָ֖הmi.tza.re.'AhH6881and out of Eshtaolוּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑לu.me.'esh.ta.'OlH847,sixשֵֽׁשׁ־shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376appointedחָג֖וּרcha.GurH2296with weaponsכְּלֵ֥יke.LeiH3627of warמִלְחָמָֽה׃mil.cha.MahH4421.

12And they went upוַֽיַּעֲל֗וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583in Kirjath–jearimH7157,in Judahבִּֽיהוּדָ֑הbi.hu.DahH3063:wherefore they calledקָרְאוּ֩ka.re.'UH7121that placeלַמָּק֨וֹםla.ma.KomH4725Mahaneh–danH4265unto this dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117: behold, it isbehindאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310Kirjath–jearimH7157.

13And they passedוַיַּעַבְר֥וּvai.ya.'av.RuH5674thence unto mountהַר־har-H2022Ephraimאֶפְרָ֑יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669,and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָֽה׃mi.KhahH4318.

14Then answeredוַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּvai.ya.'a.NuH6030the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568menהָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםha.'a.na.ShimH582that wentהַהֹלְכִים֮ha.ho.le.KhimH1980to spy outלְרַגֵּל֮le.ra.GelH7270the countryהָאָ֣רֶץha.'A.retzH776of Laishלַיִשׁ֒la.YishH3919,and saidוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559unto their brethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם'a.chei.HemH251,Do ye knowהַיְדַעְתֶּ֗םhay.da'.TemH3045that there isיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426in these housesבַּבָּתִּ֤יםba.ba.TimH1004an ephodאֵפ֣וֹד'e.FodH646,and teraphimוּתְרָפִ֔יםu.te.ra.FimH8655,and a graven imageוּפֶ֖סֶלu.Fe.selH6459,and a molten imageוּמַסֵּכָ֑הu.ma.se.KhahH4541?now therefore considerדְּע֥וּde.'UH3045what ye have to doתַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃ta.'a.SuH6213.

15And they turnedוַיָּס֣וּרוּvai.ya.Su.ruH5493thitherward, and cameוַיָּבֹ֛אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to the houseבֵּֽית־beit-H1004of the young manהַנַּ֥עַרha.Na.'arH5288the Leviteהַלֵּוִ֖יha.le.ViH3881, evenunto the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֑הmi.KhahH4318,and salutedוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃vai.yish.'a.lu- le.sha.LomH7965 H7592him.

16And the sixוְשֵׁשׁ־ve.shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menאִ֗ישׁ'IshH376appointedחֲגוּרִים֙cha.gu.RimH2296with their weaponsכְּלֵ֣יke.LeiH3627of warמִלְחַמְתָּ֔םmil.cham.TamH4421, which wereof the childrenמִבְּנֵי־mi.be.nei-H1121of Danדָֽן׃DanH1835,stoodנִצָּבִ֖יםni.tza.VimH5324by the enteringפֶּ֣תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשָּׁ֑עַרha.Sha.'arH8179.

17And the fiveחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568menהָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםha.'a.na.ShimH582that wentהַהֹלְכִים֮ha.ho.le.KhimH1980to spy outלְרַגֵּ֣לle.ra.GelH7270the landהָאָרֶץ֒ha.'a.RetzH776went upוַֽיַּעֲל֞וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927, andcame inבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935thither, andtookלָקְח֗וּla.ke.ChuH3947the graven imageהַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ha.Pe.selH6459,and the ephodהָ֣אֵפ֔וֹדha.'e.FodH646,and the teraphimהַתְּרָפִ֖יםha.te.ra.FimH8655,and the molten imageהַמַּסֵּכָ֑הha.ma.se.KhahH4541:and the priestוְהַכֹּהֵ֗ןve.ha.ko.HenH3548stoodנִצָּב֙ni.TzavH5324in the enteringפֶּ֣תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשַּׁ֔עַרha.Sha.'arH8179with the sixוְשֵׁשׁ־ve.shesh-H8337hundredמֵא֣וֹתme.'otH3967menהָאִ֔ישׁha.'IshH376that wereappointedהֶחָג֖וּרhe.cha.GurH2296with weaponsכְּלֵ֥יke.LeiH3627of warהַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ha.mil.cha.MahH4421.

18And these wentבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935into Micah’sמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,and fetchedוַיִּקְחוּ֙vai.yik.ChuH3947the carved imageפֶּ֣סֶלPe.selH6459,the ephodהָאֵפ֔וֹדha.'e.FodH646,and the teraphimהַתְּרָפִ֖יםha.te.ra.FimH8655,and the molten imageהַמַּסֵּכָ֑הha.ma.se.KhahH4541.Then saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548unto them, What doעֹשִֽׂים׃'o.SimH6213ye?

19And they saidוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩vai.yo.me.RuH559unto him, Hold thy peaceהַחֲרֵ֜שׁha.cha.ReshH2790,layשִֽׂים־sim-H7760thine handיָדְךָ֤ya.de.KhaH3027upon thy mouthפִּ֙יךָ֙pi.khaH6310,and goH3212with us, and be to usH1961a fatherלְאָ֣בle.'AvH1and a priestוּלְכֹהֵ֑ןu.le.kho.HenH3548: is itbetterהֲט֣וֹב׀ha.TovH2896for thee to be a priestכֹהֵ֗ןkho.HenH3548unto the houseלְבֵית֙le.VeitH1004of oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376,or that thou be a priestכֹהֵ֔ןkho.HenH3548unto a tribeלְשֵׁ֥בֶטle.She.vetH7626and a familyוּלְמִשְׁפָּחָ֖הu.le.mish.pa.ChahH4940in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃be.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

20And the priest’sהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548heartלֵ֣בlevH3820was gladוַיִּיטַב֙vai.yi.TavH3190,and he tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947the ephodהָ֣אֵפ֔וֹדha.'e.FodH646,and the teraphimהַתְּרָפִ֖יםha.te.ra.FimH8655,and the graven imageהַפָּ֑סֶלha.Pa.selH6459,and went inוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935the midstבְּקֶ֥רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

21So they turnedוַיִּפְנ֖וּvai.yif.NuH6437and departedH3212,and putוַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760the little onesהַטַּ֧ףha.TafH2945and the cattleהַמִּקְנֶ֛הha.mik.NehH4735and the carriageהַכְּבוּדָּ֖הha.ke.vu.DahH3520beforeלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃lif.nei.HemH6440them.

22Andwhen they were a good wayהִרְחִ֖יקוּhir.Chi.kuH7368from the houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004of Micahמִיכָ֑הmi.KhahH4318,the menוְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםve.ha.'a.na.ShimH582that werein the housesבַּבָּתִּים֙ba.ba.TimH1004near to Micah’sמִיכָ֔הmi.KhahH4318houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004were gathered togetherנִֽזְעֲק֔וּniz.'a.KuH2199,and overtookוַיַּדְבִּ֖יקוּvai.yad.Bi.kuH1692the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָֽן׃DanH1835.

23And they criedוַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙vai.yik.re.'UH7121unto the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָ֔ןDanH1835.And they turnedוַיַּסֵּ֖בּוּvai.yas.Se.buH5437their facesפְּנֵיהֶ֑םpe.nei.HemH6440,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto Micahלְמִיכָ֔הle.mi.KhahH4318,What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a companyנִזְעָֽקְתָּ׃niz.'A.ke.taH2199?

24And he saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Ye have taken awayלְקַחְתֶּ֧םle.kach.TemH3947my godsאֱלֹהַי֩'e.lo.HaiH430which I madeעָשִׂ֨יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213,and the priestהַכֹּהֵ֛ןha.ko.HenH3548,and ye are gone awayH3212: and what have I more? and what is this thatye sayתֹּאמְר֥וּto.me.RuH559unto me, What aileth thee?

25And the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָ֔ןDanH1835saidוַיֹּאמְר֤וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto him, Let not thy voiceקוֹלְךָ֖kol.ChaH6963be heardתַּשְׁמַ֥עtash.Ma'H8085among us, lest angryמָ֣רֵי נֶ֔פֶשׁMa.rei Ne.feshH5315 H4751fellowsאֲנָשִׁים֙'a.na.ShimH582runיִפְגְּע֣וּyif.ge.'UH6293upon thee, and thou loseוְאָסַפְתָּ֥הve.'a.saf.TahH622thy lifeנַפְשְׁךָ֖naf.she.KhaH5315,with the livesוְנֶ֥פֶשׁve.Ne.feshH5315of thy householdבֵּיתֶֽךָ׃bei.Te.khaH1004.

26And the childrenבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Danדָ֖ןdanH1835wentH3212their wayלְדַרְכָּ֑םle.dar.KamH1870:and when Micahמִיכָ֗הmi.KhahH4318sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that they weretoo strongחֲזָקִ֥יםcha.za.KimH2389for him, he turnedוַיִּ֖פֶןvai.Yi.fenH6437and went backוַיָּ֥שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725unto his houseבֵּיתֽוֹ׃bei.ToH1004.

27And they tookלָקְח֜וּla.ke.ChuH3947the thingswhich Micahמִיכָ֗הmi.KhahH4318had madeעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213,and the priestהַכֹּהֵן֮ha.ko.HenH3548which he had, and cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto Laishלַ֗יִשׁLa.yishH3919,unto a peopleעַם֙'amH5971that wereat quietשֹׁקֵ֣טsho.KetH8252and secureוּבֹטֵ֔חַu.vo.Te.achH982:and they smoteוַיַּכּ֥וּvai.ya.KuH5221them with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719,and burntשָׂרְפ֥וּsa.re.FuH8313the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892with fireבָאֵֽשׁ׃va.'EshH784.

28And there wasno delivererמַצִּ֜ילma.TzilH5337, because it wasfarרְֽחוֹקָה־re.cho.kah-H7350from Sidonמִצִּיד֗וֹןmi.tzi.DonH6721,and they had no businessוְדָבָ֤רve.da.VarH1697with anymanאָדָ֔ם'a.DamH120;and it was in the valleyבָּעֵ֖מֶקba.'E.mekH6010that liethby Beth–rehobH1050.And they builtוַיִּבְנ֥וּvai.yiv.NuH1129a cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892,and dweltוַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּvai.Ye.she.vuH3427therein.

29And they calledוַיִּקְרְא֤וּvai.yik.re.'UH7121the nameשֵׁם־shem-H8034of the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892Danדָּ֔ןDanH1835,after the nameבְּשֵׁם֙be.ShemH8034of Danדָּ֣ןdanH1835their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֔ם'a.vi.HemH1,who was bornיוּלַּ֖דyu.LadH3205unto Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לle.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:howbeitוְאוּלָ֛םve.'u.LamH199the nameשֵׁם־shem-H8034of the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892wasLaishלַ֥יִשׁLa.yishH3919at the firstלָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃la.ri.sho.NahH7223.

30And the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Danדָ֖ןdanH1835set upוַיָּקִ֧ימוּvai.ya.Ki.muH6965the graven imageהַפָּ֑סֶלha.Pa.selH6459:and Jonathanוִ֠יהוֹנָתָןVi.ho.na.tonH3083,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Gershomגֵּרְשֹׁ֨םge.re.ShomH1647,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֜הme.na.ShehH4519,he and his sonsוּבָנָ֗יוu.va.NavH1121were priestsכֹהֲנִים֙kho.ha.NimH3548to the tribeלְשֵׁ֣בֶטle.She.vetH7626of Danהַדָּנִ֔יha.da.NiH1839until the dayי֖וֹםYomH3117of the captivityגְּל֥וֹתge.LotH1540of the landהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

31And they set them upוַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760Micah’sמִיכָ֖הmi.KhahH4318graven imageפֶּ֥סֶלPe.selH6459,which he madeעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213,all the timeיְמֵ֛יye.MeiH3117that the houseבֵּית־beit-H1004of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430was in Shilohבְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ פbe.shi.LohH7887.

Commentaries on Judges 18