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Judges 18:7
ESV Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
NIV So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else.
NASB So the five men departed and came to Laish, and saw the people who were in it living in security, in the way of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting; for there was no oppressive ruler humiliating them for anything in the land, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
CSB 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 in the land and no oppressive ruler. They were far from the Sidonians, having no alliance with anyone.
NLT So the five men went on to the town of Laish, where they noticed the people living carefree lives, like the Sidonians; they were peaceful and secure. The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.
KJV Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
NKJV So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone.

What does Judges 18:7 mean?

Scouts sent from the tribe of Dan leave Micah's house in Ephraim (Judges 18:1–6). They head north continuing to look for a place for their people to settle. Rather than being content with their own allotted region (Joshua 19:40–46) or completing their conquest of it (Judges 1:34–36), the tribe of Dan is looking to move somewhere else. The scouts travel several days to the north, to the town of Laish. This was about a day's journey beyond the northern end of the Sea of Galilee.

Laish was in the territory allotted to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17), but no Israelite settlements had been established that far north in the Promised Land. Instead, the town and the area around it were occupied by a group of Sidonian settlers. The Sidonians were a mostly peaceful people from the north and west. They spread everywhere as traders, sailors, and fine craftsmen. This town was peaceful and isolated, so they apparently feared no threat from anyone. They lived in security, and the land around them was well watered. They had everything they needed.

The five Danite scouts will return to report on this ideal location. Unfortunately, natural resources are not all that makes it appealing. The people living there are oblivious to the need for protection: they are an easy, soft target for raiders and conquerors (Judges 18:10). The Danites are confident they can overpower and defeat these Sidonians.
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