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Judges 18:5
ESV And they said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed."
NIV Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful."
NASB Then they said to him, 'Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be successful.'
CSB Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God for us to determine if we will have a successful journey."
NLT Then they said, 'Ask God whether or not our journey will be successful.'
KJV And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
NKJV So they said to him, “Please inquire of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous.”

What does Judges 18:5 mean?

Both Micah (Judges 17:13) and the Danite spies see opportunity in coming across a Levite in the middle of Ephraim (Judges 18:1–4). Even among those who did not follow the Lord faithfully, many believed Levites had a special connection to God. After all, they were part of the priestly tribe (Numbers 3:5–10). Their job was to represent God to His people, and the people to the Lord.

The men should have asked this Levite "priest" how being Micah's personal family cleric could possibly fit with God's calling. Instead, they want the Levite to ask the Lord if their mission will be successful. They wonder if they will find new territory for the tribe of Dan, by taking it from another tribe of Israel. This, also, is a question which never should have been asked. Dan was allotted territory in the Promised Land (Joshua 19:40–46) but didn't accomplish their task of taking it from the enemies living there (Judges 1:34–36).

It's the wrong question, asked of the wrong person, and for the wrong reasons. Yet the Levite will not only answer, but he will also presume to speak on behalf of God (Judges 18:6).
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