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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Judges 18 Christian Standard Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/judges/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/judges/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CSB</a> > Judges 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../judges/17.htm" title="Judges 17">◄</a> Judges 18 <a href="../judges/19.htm" title="Judges 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Christian Standard Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/csb/esv/judges/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><section epub:type="chapter" id="csb-Judges.18" /><h3 class="head1">Dan’s Invasion and Idolatry</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.1" /><A name="2"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>In those days, there was no king in Israel,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.1.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and the Danite tribe was looking for territory to occupy.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.1.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> Up to that time no territory had been captured by them among the tribes of Israel. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.2" /> <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So the Danites sent out five brave men<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.2.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> from all their clans, from Zorah and Eshtaol,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.2.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> to scout<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.2.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> out the land and explore it. They told them, “Go and explore the land.”</p><p class="scripture">They came to the hill country of Ephraim as far as the home of Micah and spent the night there. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>While they were near Micah’s home, they recognized the accent of the young Levite. So they went over to him and asked, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is keeping you here? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>He told them, “This is what Micah has done for me: He has hired me, and I became his priest.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.5.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> for us to determine if we will have a successful journey.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>The priest told them, “Go in peace. The L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> is watching over the journey you are going on.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The five men left and came to Laish. They saw that the people who were there were living securely, in the same way as the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.7.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> in the land and no oppressive ruler. They were far from the Sidonians, having no alliance with anyone.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.7.2"><span class="fnAlphabet">B</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>When the men went back to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.8.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> their relatives asked them, “What did you find out? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why wait? Don’t hesitate to go and invade and take possession of the land! <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>When you get there, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has handed it over to you. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.10.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Six hundred Danites departed from Zorah and Eshtaol armed with weapons of war. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.12.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> in Judah. This is why the place is still called the Camp of Dan<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.12.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> today; it is west of Kiriath-jearim. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>From there they traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at Micah’s house.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>The five men who had gone to scout out the land of Laish told their brothers, “Did you know that there are an ephod, household gods, and a carved image and a silver idol<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.14.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> in these houses? Now think about what you should do.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.15" /> <A name="16"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>So they detoured there and went to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and greeted him. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.16" /> <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>The six hundred Danite men were standing by the entrance of the city gate, armed with their weapons of war. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.17" /> <A name="18"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Then the five men who had gone to scout out the land went in and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.17.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> while the priest was standing by the entrance of the city gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.18" /> <A name="19"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>When they entered Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.19" /> <A name="20"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>They told him, “Be quiet. Keep your mouth shut.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.19.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">a</span></a> <a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.19.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> Come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or for you to be a priest for a tribe and family in Israel? ” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.20" /> <A name="21"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>So the priest was pleased and took the ephod, household idols, and carved image, and went with the people. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.21" /> <A name="22"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>They prepared to leave, putting their dependents, livestock, and possessions in front of them.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.22" /> <A name="23"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>After they were some distance from Micah’s house, the men who were in the houses near it were mustered and caught up with the Danites. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.23" /> <A name="24"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>They called to the Danites, who turned to face them, and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you mustered the men? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.24" /> <A name="25"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>He said, “You took the gods I had made and the priest, and went away. What do I have left? How can you say to me, ‘What’s the matter with you? ’ ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.25" /> <A name="26"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>The Danites said to him, “Don’t raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.26" /> <A name="27"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>The Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were stronger than he was.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.27" /> <A name="28"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>After they had taken the gods Micah had made and the priest that belonged to him, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people. They killed them with their swords and burned the city.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.27.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.28" /> <A name="29"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>There was no one to rescue them<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.28.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> because it was far from Sidon and they had no alliance with anyone. It was in a valley that belonged to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.29" /> <A name="30"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>They named the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel. The city was formerly named Laish.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.30" /> <A name="31"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The Danites set up the carved image for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Judges.18.30.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> and his sons were priests for the Danite tribe until the time of the exile from the land.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.30.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Judges.18.31" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/judges/18-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image that he had made, and it was there as long as the house of God was in Shiloh.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Judges.18.31.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><br /><section id="footnotes-Judges.18" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Judges.18.7.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.7">18:7</a></span> Hb obscure</aside><aside id="fn.Judges.18.7.2"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.7">18:7</a></span> MT; some LXX mss, Sym, Old Lat, Syr read <span class="italic">Aram</span></aside><aside id="fn.Judges.18.12.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.12">18:12</a></span> Or <span class="italic">called Mahaneh-dan</span></aside><aside id="fn.Judges.18.14.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.14">18:14</a></span> Or <span class="italic">image, the cast image</span></aside><aside id="fn.Judges.18.17.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.17">18:17</a></span> Or <span class="italic">the cast image</span>, also in v. 18</aside><aside id="fn.Judges.18.19.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.19">18:19</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">Put your hand on your mouth</span></aside><aside id="fn.Judges.18.30.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.30">18:30</a></span> Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss read <span class="italic">Manasseh</span></aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Judges.18" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.1">18:1</a></span> Jdg 17:6; 19:1; 21:25</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.1.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.1">18:1</a></span> Jos 19:47–48; Jdg 1:34</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.2.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.2">18:2</a></span> Dt 3:18; 1Sm 14:52; 18:17; 2Sm 2:7; 13:28; 17:10; 1Kg 1:52; 2Kg 2:16</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.2.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.2">18:2</a></span> Jos 19:40–41; Jdg 13:2,25</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.2.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.2">18:2</a></span> Nm 13:17; Jos 2:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.5.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.5">18:5</a></span> Gn 25:22; Ex 18:15; Jdg 1:1; 20:18; 1Sm 9:9; 10:22; 14:37; 22:10; 23:2; 28:6</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.8.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.8">18:8</a></span> Jos 15:33; 19:41; Jdg 13:2,25; 16:31</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.10.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.10">18:10</a></span> Dt 8:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.12.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.12">18:12</a></span> Jos 9:17; 1Ch 13:5–6; 2Ch 1:4; Jr 26:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.19.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.19">18:19</a></span> Jb 21:5; 29:9; 40:4; Mc 7:16</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.27.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.27">18:27</a></span> Dt 13:16; Jos 6:24; Jdg 1:8,25; 4:15–16; 1Sm 30:3; Jr 32:29; 34:2</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.28.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.28">18:28</a></span> Jb 5:4; Ps 7:2; 50:22; 71:11; Is 5:29; 42:22; Dn 8:4; Hs 5:14; Mc 5:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.30.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.30">18:30</a></span> 2Kg 15:29</aside><aside id="xrf.Judges.18.31.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Judges.18.31">18:31</a></span> Jos 18:1; Jdg 21:12; 1Sm 1:3; 3:21; Ps 78:60; Jr 7:12,14; 26:6,9</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Judges.18" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. 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