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}{(H8764)} them an inheritance{H5159} to dwell in{H3427}{(H8800)}; for unto that day{H3117} all their inheritance{H5159} had not fallen{H5307}{(H8804)} unto them among{H8432} the tribes{H7626} of Israel{H3478}.

And the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8763)} out the land{H776}, and to search{H2713}{(H8800)} it; and they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, search{H2713}{(H8798)} the land{H776}: who when they came{H935}{(H8799)} to mount{H2022} Ephraim{H669}, to the house{H1004} of Micah{H4318}, they lodged{H3885}{(H8799)} there.

When they were by the house{H1004} of Micah{H4318}, they knew{H5234}{(H8689)} the voice{H6963} of the young man{H5288} the Levite{H3881}: and they turned in{H5493}{(H8799)} thither, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Who brought{H935}{(H8689)} thee hither{H1988}? and what makest{H6213}{(H8802)} thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Thus{H2090} and thus{H2090} dealeth{H6213}{(H8804)} Micah{H4318} with me, and hath hired{H7936}{(H8799)} me, and I am his priest{H3548}.

And they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Ask counsel{H7592}{(H8798)}, we pray thee, of God{H430}, that we may know{H3045}{(H8799)} whether our way{H1870} which we go{H1980}{(H8802)} shall be prosperous{H6743}{(H8686)}.

And the priest{H3548} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Go{H3212}{(H8798)} in peace{H7965}: before{H5227} the LORD{H3068} is your way{H1870} wherein ye go{H3212}{(H8799)}.

Then the five{H2568} men{H582} departed{H3212}{(H8799)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to Laish{H3919}, and saw{H7200}{(H8799)} the people{H5971} that were therein{H7130}, how they dwelt{H3427}{(H8802)} careless{H983}, after the manner{H4941} of the Zidonians{H6722}, quiet{H8252}{(H8802)} and secure{H982}{(H8802)}; and there was no magistrate{H3423}{(H8802)}{H6114} in the land{H776}, that might put them to shame{H3637}{(H8688)} in any thing{H1697}; and they were far{H7350} from the Zidonians{H6722}, and had no business{H1697} with any man{H120}.

And they came{H935}{(H8799)} unto their brethren{H251} to Zorah{H6881} and Eshtaol{H847}: and their brethren{H251} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, What say ye?

And they said{H559}{(H8799)}, Arise{H6965}{(H8798)}, that we may go up{H5927}{(H8799)} against them: for we have seen{H7200}{(H8804)} the land{H776}, and, behold, it is very{H3966} good{H2896}: and are ye still{H2814}{(H8688)}? be not slothful{H6101}{(H8735)} to go{H3212}{(H8800)}, and to enter{H935}{(H8800)} to possess{H3423}{(H8800)} the land{H776}.

When ye go{H935}{(H8800)}, ye shall come{H935}{(H8799)} unto a people{H5971} secure{H982}{(H8802)}, and to a large{H7342} land{H776}: for God{H430} hath given{H5414}{(H8804)} it into your hands{H3027}; a place{H4725} where there is no want{H4270} of any thing{H1697} that is in the earth{H776}.

And there went{H5265}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8803)} with weapons{H3627} of war{H4421}.

And they went up{H5927}{(H8799)}, and pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} in Kirjathjearim{H7157}, in Judah{H3063}: wherefore they called{H7121}{(H8804)} that place{H4725} Mahanehdan{H4265} unto this day{H3117}: behold, it is behind{H310} Kirjathjearim{H7157}.

And they passed{H5674}{(H8799)} thence unto mount{H2022} Ephraim{H669}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} unto the house{H1004} of Micah{H4318}.

Then answered{H6030}{(H8799)} the five{H2568} men{H582} that went{H1980}{(H8802)} to spy out{H7270}{(H8763)} the country{H776} of Laish{H3919}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto their brethren{H251}, Do ye know{H3045}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8798)} what ye have to do{H6213}{(H8799)}.

And they turned{H5493}{(H8799)} thitherward, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to the house{H1004} of the young man{H5288} the Levite{H3881}, even unto the house{H1004} of Micah{H4318}, and saluted{H7592}{(H8799)}{H7965} him.

And the six{H8337} hundred{H3967} men{H376} appointed{H2296}{(H8803)} with their weapons{H3627} of war{H4421}, which were of the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835}, stood{H5324}{(H8737)} by the entering{H6607} of the gate{H8179}.

And the five{H2568} men{H582} that went{H1980}{(H8802)} to spy out{H7270}{(H8763)} the land{H776} went up{H5927}{(H8799)}, and came in{H935}{(H8804)} thither, and took{H3947}{(H8804)} the graven image{H6459}, and the ephod{H646}, and the teraphim{H8655}, and the molten image{H4541}: and the priest{H3548} stood{H5324}{(H8737)} in the entering{H6607} of the gate{H8179} with the six{H8337} hundred{H3967} men{H376} that were appointed{H2296}{(H8803)} with weapons{H3627} of war{H4421}.

And these went{H935}{(H8804)} into Micah's{H4318} house{H1004}, and fetched{H3947}{(H8799)} the carved image{H6459}, the ephod{H646}, and the teraphim{H8655}, and the molten image{H4541}. Then said{H559}{(H8799)} the priest{H3548} unto them, What do{H6213}{(H8802)} ye?

And they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Hold thy peace{H2790}{(H8685)}, lay{H7760}{(H8798)} thine hand{H3027} upon thy mouth{H6310}, and go{H3212}{(H8798)} with us, and be to us{H1961}{(H8800)} 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}?

And the priest's{H3548} heart{H3820} was glad{H3190}{(H8799)}, and he took{H3947}{(H8799)} the ephod{H646}, and the teraphim{H8655}, and the graven image{H6459}, and went in{H935}{(H8799)} the midst{H7130} of the people{H5971}.

So they turned{H6437}{(H8799)} and departed{H3212}{(H8799)}, and put{H7760}{(H8799)} the little ones{H2945} and the cattle{H4735} and the carriage{H3520} before{H6440} them.

And when they were a good way{H7368}{(H8689)} 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}{(H8738)}, and overtook{H1692}{(H8686)} the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835}.

And they cried{H7121}{(H8799)} unto the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835}. And they turned{H5437}{(H8686)} their faces{H6440}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Micah{H4318}, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company{H2199}{(H8738)}?

And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Ye have taken away{H3947}{(H8804)} my gods{H430} which I made{H6213}{(H8804)}, and the priest{H3548}, and ye are gone away{H3212}{(H8799)}: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say{H559}{(H8799)} unto me, What aileth thee?

And the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Let not thy voice{H6963} be heard{H8085}{(H8686)} among us, lest angry{H4751}{H5315} fellows{H582} run{H6293}{(H8799)} upon thee, and thou lose{H622}{(H8804)} thy life{H5315}, with the lives{H5315} of thy household{H1004}.

And the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835} went{H3212}{(H8799)} their way{H1870}: and when Micah{H4318} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that they were too strong{H2389} for him, he turned{H6437}{(H8799)} and went back{H7725}{(H8799)} unto his house{H1004}.

And they took{H3947}{(H8804)} the things which Micah{H4318} had made{H6213}{(H8804)}, and the priest{H3548} which he had, and came{H935}{(H8799)} unto Laish{H3919}, unto a people{H5971} that were at quiet{H8252}{(H8802)} and secure{H982}{(H8802)}: and they smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them with the edge{H6310} of the sword{H2719}, and burnt{H8313}{(H8804)} the city{H5892} with fire{H784}.

And there was no deliverer{H5337}{(H8688)}, 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}{(H8799)} a city{H5892}, and dwelt{H3427}{(H8799)} therein.

And they called{H7121}{(H8799)} the name{H8034} of the city{H5892} Dan{H1835}, after the name{H8034} of Dan{H1835} their father{H1}, who was born{H3205}{(H8795)} unto Israel{H3478}: howbeit{H199} the name{H8034} of the city{H5892} was Laish{H3919} at the first{H7223}.

And the children{H1121} of Dan{H1835} set up{H6965}{(H8686)} 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}{(H8800)} of the land{H776}.

And they set them up{H7760}{(H8799)} Micah's{H4318} graven image{H6459}, which he made{H6213}{(H8804)}, all the time{H3117} that the house{H1004} of God{H430} was in Shiloh{H7887}.