The Danites Seize Laish
June 7, 2021
Commentary
Two definite things have been made evident in these chapters: the foolish behavior of Micah and the retreat to the north by the tribe of Dan. The tribe of Dan was notoriously restless. When the territory had been allotted to the various groups upon Israel’s arrival in Canaan, they had been restricted to the hill country due to the hostile pressure of the Amorites. Now we find them on their way to the far north in search of a new homeland (vv. 11-12). Upon arriving at Mt. Ephraim, they were surprised to find Jonathan (Moses’ grandson) serving as high priest in the house of Micah (v. 13). They invited him to come with them and be their priest, which he gladly did, bringing an ephod, household idols, a carved image and a molded image. (vv. 14-20).
When the men of Dan departed, they took everything Micah had including his idols and priest (v. 21). Micah and some of his friends pursued them and asked why they had done this, but they said, “Don’t let your voice be heard among us” (vv. 22-25). When Micah saw they were too strong for him, he decided to retreat and go back to his house (v. 26). From here the children of Dan went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned their city to the ground (v. 27). They rebuilt the city and lived there calling it Dan after the name of their father (vv. 28-29). Now they set up the idols stolen from Micah and probably assumed they were worshiping God through them (vv. 30-31).
Application
My influence will go onto the next generations as it did with Jonathan. What influence am I having on my children and grandchildren? Do they know I desire God to use them more than anything else? Do they see God answer my prayers? Matt. 6:33 is a good verse to memorize.
Judges 18:12– 31 (NET)
12 They went up and camped in Kiriath Jearim in Judah. (To this day that place is called Camp of Dan. It is west of Kiriath Jearim.) 13 From there they traveled through the Ephraimite hill country and arrived at Micah’s house. 14 The five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their kinsmen, “Do you realize that inside these houses are an ephod, some personal idols, a carved image, and a metal image? Decide now what you want to do.” 15 They stopped there, went inside the young Levite’s house (which belonged to Micah), and asked him how he was doing. 16 Meanwhile the 600 Danites, fully armed, stood at the entrance to the gate. 17 The five men who had gone to spy out the land broke in and stole the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance to the gate with the 600 fully armed men. 18 When these men broke into Micah’s house and stole the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19 They said to him, “Shut up! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us! You can be our adviser and priest. Wouldn’t it be better to be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for just one man’s family?” 20 The priest was happy. He took the ephod, the personal idols, and the carved image and joined the group.
21 They turned and went on their way, but they walked behind the children, the cattle, and their possessions. 22 After they had gone a good distance from Micah’s house, Micah’s neighbors gathered together and caught up with the Danites. 23 When they called out to the Danites, the Danites turned around and said to Micah, “Why have you gathered together?” 24 He said, “You stole my gods that I made, as well as this priest, and then went away. What do I have left? How can you have the audacity to say to me, ‘What do you want?’” 25 The Danites said to him, “Don’t say another word to us, or some very angry men will attack you, and you and your family will die.” 26 The Danites went on their way; when Micah realized they were too strong to resist, he turned around and went home.
27 Now the Danites took what Micah had made, as well as his priest, and came to Laish, where the people were undisturbed and unsuspecting. They struck them down with the sword and burned the city. 28 No one came to the rescue because the city was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and occupied it. 29 They named it Dan after their ancestor, who was one of Israel’s sons. But the city’s name used to be Laish. 30 The Danites worshiped the carved image. Jonathan, descendant of Gershom, son of Moses, and his descendants served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the exile. 31 They worshiped Micah’s carved image the whole time God’s authorized shrine was in Shiloh.