Judges 18:1-16
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
1In those days there was no king of Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for themselves to live in, for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel. 2So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, 'Go, explore the land.' And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and stayed overnight there. 3When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, 'Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?' 4He said to them, 'Micah has done this and that for me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest.' 5Then they said to him, 'Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be successful.' 6And the priest said to them, 'Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the Lord’S approval.'
7So 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.
8When they came back to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, 'What do you say?'
9And they said, 'Arise, and let’s go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you sit still? Do not hesitate to go, to enter, to take possession of the land.
10When you enter, you will come to an unsuspecting people with a spacious land; for God has handed it over to you, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.'
11Then from the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out.
12They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
13And they passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
14Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish said to their kinsmen, 'Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod and household idols, and a carved image and a cast metal image? Now then, consider what you should do.'
15So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing.
16Meanwhile, the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, were positioned at the entrance of the gate.
King James Version
Chapter 18
1In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. 2And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there. 3When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? 4And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. 5And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. 6And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the Lord is your way wherein ye go.
7Then 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.
8And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
9And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
10When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
11And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
12And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
13And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
14Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
15And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.
16And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
Christian Standard Bible
2So the Danites sent out five brave men from all their clans, from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout out the land and explore it. They told them, "Go and explore the land." They came to the hill country of Ephraim as far as the home of Micah and spent the night there.
3While 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?"
4He told them, "This is what Micah has done for me: He has hired me, and I became his priest."
9They 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!
10When 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."
11Six hundred Danites departed from Zorah and Eshtaol armed with weapons of war.
12They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. This is why the place is still called the Camp of Dan today; it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
13From there they traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and arrived at Micah’s house.
14The 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 in these houses? Now think about what you should do."
15So they detoured there and went to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and greeted him.
16The six hundred Danite men were standing by the entrance of the city gate, armed with their weapons of war.
New Living Translation
2So the men of Dan chose from their clans five capable warriors from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol to scout out a land for them to settle in. When these warriors arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they came to Micah’s house and spent the night there.
3While at Micah’s house, they recognized the young Levite’s accent, so they went over and asked him, 'Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here?'
4He told them about his agreement with Micah and that he had been hired as Micah’s personal priest.
9The men replied, 'Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate to go and take possession of it.
10When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!'
11So 600 men from the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12They camped at a place west of Kiriath-jearim in Judah, which is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.
13Then they went on from there into the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
14The five men who had scouted out the land around Laish explained to the others, 'These buildings contain a sacred ephod, as well as some household idols, a carved image, and a cast idol. What do you think you should do?'
15Then the five men turned off the road and went over to Micah’s house, where the young Levite lived, and greeted him kindly.
16As the 600 armed warriors from the tribe of Dan stood at the entrance of the gate,
English Standard Version
Chapter 18
1In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. 2So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?" 4And he said to them, "This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest." 5And they said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed." 6And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord."
7Then 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.
8And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, "What do you report?"
9They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land.
10As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."
11So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol,
12and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
13And they passed on from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do."
15And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare.
16Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate.
New International Version
2So the Danites sent five of their leading men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, "Go, explore the land." So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.
3When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"
9They answered, "Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over.
10When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever."
11Then six hundred men of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan to this day.
13From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.
14Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their fellow Danites, "Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, some household gods and an image overlaid with silver? Now you know what to do."
15So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him.
16The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate.
New King James Version
Chapter 18
1In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them. 2So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, “Go, search the land.” So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?”
9So they said, “Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land.
10When you go, you will come to a secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”
11And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war.
12Then they went up and encamped in Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.)
13And they passed from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, “Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do.”
15So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man—to the house of Micah—and greeted him.
16The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
