The Danites Settle in Laish

1  בַּיָּמִ֣ים (In the days) הָהֵ֔ם (those) אֵ֥ין (there was no) מֶ֖לֶךְ (king) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel), וּבַיָּמִ֣ים (and in the days) הָהֵ֗ם (those) שֵׁ֣בֶט (the tribe) הַדָּנִ֞י (of the Danite) מְבַקֶּשׁ־ (was seeking) ל֤וֹ (for itself) נַֽחֲלָה֙ (an inheritance) לָשֶׁ֔בֶת (to dwell in), כִּי֩ (for) לֹֽא־ (not) נָ֨פְלָה (had fallen) לּ֜וֹ (to them) עַד־ (until) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַה֛וּא (that) בְּתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (of the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בְּנַחֲלָֽה׃ס (by inheritance). 2  וַיִּשְׁלְח֣וּ (And sent) בְנֵי־ (the sons) דָ֣ן׀ (of Dan) מִֽמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּ֡ם (from their family) חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה (five) אֲנָשִׁ֣ים (men) מִקְצוֹתָם֩ (from their territory), אֲנָשִׁ֨ים (men) בְּנֵי־ (of) חַ֜יִל (valor), מִצָּרְעָ֣ה (from Zorah) וּמֵֽאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗ל (and Eshtaol) לְרַגֵּ֤ל (to spy out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (the land) וּלְחָקְרָ֔הּ (and search it). וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (And they said) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), לְכ֖וּ (Go), חִקְר֣וּ (search) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land).

וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ (And they went) הַר־ (to the hill country) אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (of Ephraim), עַד־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) מִיכָ֔ה (of Micah), וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ (and they lodged) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 3  הֵ֚מָּה (While they were) עִם־ (with) בֵּ֣ית (the house) מִיכָ֔ה (of Micah), וְהֵ֣מָּה (and they) הִכִּ֔ירוּ (recognized) אֶת־ (-) ק֥וֹל (the voice) הַנַּ֖עַר (of the young man), הַלֵּוִ֑י (the Levite), וַיָּס֣וּרוּ (and they turned aside) שָׁ֗ם (there) וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ (and said) לוֹ֙ (to him), מִֽי־ (Who) הֱבִיאֲךָ֣ (brought you) הֲלֹ֔ם (here)? וּמָֽה־ (And what) אַתָּ֥ה (are you) עֹשֶׂ֛ה (doing) בָּזֶ֖ה (in this place)? וּמַה־ (And why) לְּךָ֥ (are you) פֹֽה׃ (here)?

4  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), כָּזֹ֣ה (This) וְכָזֶ֔ה (and like this) עָ֥שָׂה (has done) לִ֖י (for me) מִיכָ֑ה (Micah). וַיִּשְׂכְּרֵ֕נִי (And he has hired me), וָאֱהִי־ (and I have become) ל֖וֹ (unto him) לְכֹהֵֽן׃ (priest).

5  וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ (And they said) ל֖וֹ (to him), שְׁאַל־ (Inquire), נָ֣א (please), בֵאלֹהִ֑ים (of God), וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה (that we may know), הֲתַצְלִ֣יחַ (whether will prosper) דַּרְכֵּ֔נוּ (the journey) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (of which) אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (we) הֹלְכִ֥ים (are going) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (on it).

6  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) לָהֶ֛ם (to them) הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (the priest), לְכ֣וּ (Go) לְשָׁל֑וֹם (in peace). נֹ֣כַח (Before) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) דַּרְכְּכֶ֖ם (is your⁺ way) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (in which) תֵּֽלְכוּ־ (are going) בָֽהּ׃פ (you).

7  וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ (And departed) חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת (five) הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and went) לָ֑יְשָׁה (to Laish), וַיִּרְא֣וּ (and they saw) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֣ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ (in its midst), יוֹשֶֽׁבֶת־ (dwelling) לָ֠בֶטַח (securely), כְּמִשְׁפַּ֨ט (in the manner) צִדֹנִ֜ים (of the Sidonians), שֹׁקֵ֣ט׀ (quiet) וּבֹטֵ֗חַ (and secure), וְאֵין־ (and nothing) מַכְלִ֨ים (was lacking) דָּבָ֤ר (in anything) בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ (in the land), יוֹרֵ֣שׁ (possessing) עֶ֔צֶר (restraint) וּרְחֹקִ֥ים (and were far off) הֵ֙מָּה֙ (and they) מִצִּ֣דֹנִ֔ים (from the Sidonians), וְדָבָ֥ר (and ties) אֵין־ (were none) לָהֶ֖ם (to then) עִם־ (with) אָדָֽם׃ (man).

8  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And they came back) אֶל־ (to) אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם (their brothers) צָרְעָ֖ה (at Zorah) וְאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל (and Eshtaol), וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (and said) לָהֶ֛ם (to them) אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם (their brothers) מָ֥ה (What do) אַתֶּֽם׃ (you⁺ say)?

9  וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said), ק֚וּמָה (Arise), וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה (and let us go up) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (against them), כִּ֤י (for) רָאִ֙ינוּ֙ (we have seen) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), טוֹבָ֖ה (it is good) מְאֹ֑ד (very). וְאַתֶּ֣ם (And you⁺) מַחְשִׁ֔ים (are keeping silent)? אַל־ (Not) תֵּעָ֣צְל֔וּ (do hesitate) לָלֶ֥כֶת (to go) לָבֹ֖א (to enter) לָרֶ֥שֶׁת (to possess) אֶת־ (-) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (the land). 10  כְּבֹאֲכֶ֞ם (When you⁺ enter), תָּבֹ֣אוּ׀ (you⁺ will come) אֶל־ (to) עַ֣ם (a people) בֹּטֵ֗חַ (unsuspecting), וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (and the land) רַחֲבַ֣ת (is large) יָדַ֔יִם (on both hands), כִּֽי־ (for) נְתָנָ֥הּ (has given it) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם (into your⁺ hands), מָקוֹם֙ (a place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אֵֽין־ (not) שָׁ֣ם (in it) מַחְס֔וֹר (is lacking) כָּל־ (of any) דָּבָ֖ר (thing) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (on the earth).

11  וַיִּסְע֤וּ (And went) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת (of the family) הַדָּנִ֔י (of the Danite) מִצָּרְעָ֖ה (from Zorah) וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל (and Eshtaol) שֵֽׁשׁ־ (six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִ֔ישׁ (men) חָג֖וּר (girded) כְּלֵ֥י (with weapons) מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (of war). 12  וַֽיַּעֲל֗וּ (And they went up) וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּ (and encamped) בְּקִרְיַ֥ת (at Kiriath-) יְעָרִ֖ים (jearim) בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה (in Judah). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֡ן (thius) קָרְאוּ֩ (they call) לַמָּק֨וֹם (the place) הַה֜וּא (that) מַחֲנֵה־ (Mahaneh-) דָ֗ן (dan) עַ֚ד (to) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this). הִנֵּ֕ה (Belold), אַחֲרֵ֖י (it is behind) קִרְיַ֥ת (Kiriath-) יְעָרִֽים׃ (jearim). 13  וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ (And they passed) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) הַר־ (to the hill country) אֶפְרָ֑יִם (of Ephraim) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and came) עַד־ (to) בֵּ֥ית (the house) מִיכָֽה׃ (of Micah).

The Danites Take Micah’s Idols

14  וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ (And answered) חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת (five) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men) הַהֹלְכִים֮ (who had gone) לְרַגֵּל֮ (to spy out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֣רֶץ (the country) לַיִשׁ֒ (of Laish), וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and said) אֶל־ (to) אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם (their brothers), הַיְדַעְתֶּ֗ם (Do you⁺ know) כִּ֠י (that) יֵ֣שׁ (there is) בַּבָּתִּ֤ים (in the houses) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) אֵפ֣וֹד (an ephod), וּתְרָפִ֔ים (and teraphim), וּפֶ֖סֶל (and a carved image), וּמַסֵּכָ֑ה (and a molten image)? וְעַתָּ֖ה (And now), דְּע֥וּ (consider) מַֽה־ (what) תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃ (you⁺ should do).

15  וַיָּס֣וּרוּ (And they turned aside) שָׁ֔מָּה (there), וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ (and came) אֶל־ (to) בֵּֽית־ (the house) הַנַּ֥עַר (of the young man), הַלֵּוִ֖י (the Levite), בֵּ֣ית (to the house) מִיכָ֑ה (of Micah), וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־ (and they asked) ל֖וֹ (of his) לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (welfare).

16  וְשֵׁשׁ־ (And six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִ֗ישׁ (men) חֲגוּרִים֙ (armed) כְּלֵ֣י (with their weapons) מִלְחַמְתָּ֔ם (of war) נִצָּבִ֖ים (stood) פֶּ֣תַח (at the entrance) הַשָּׁ֑עַר (of the gate), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who were) מִבְּנֵי־ (of the sons) דָֽן׃ (of Dan), 17  וַֽיַּעֲל֞וּ (and went up) חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת (five) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men) הַהֹלְכִים֮ (who had gone) לְרַגֵּ֣ל (to spy out) אֶת־ (-) הָאָרֶץ֒ (the land). בָּ֣אוּ (Having entered) שָׁ֔מָּה (there), לָקְח֗וּ (they took) אֶת־ (-) הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ (the carved image), וְאֶת־ (and) הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד (the ephod), וְאֶת־ (and) הַתְּרָפִ֖ים (the teraphim), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה (the molten image). וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן (And the priest) נִצָּב֙ (stood) פֶּ֣תַח (at the entrance) הַשַּׁ֔עַר (of the gate) וְשֵׁשׁ־ (and six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) הָאִ֔ישׁ (men) הֶחָג֖וּר (girded) כְּלֵ֥י (with weapons) הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (of war).

18  וְאֵ֗לֶּה (And these) בָּ֚אוּ (entered) בֵּ֣ית (the house), מִיכָ֔ה (of Micah) וַיִּקְחוּ֙ (and took) אֶת־ (-) פֶּ֣סֶל (the carved image), הָאֵפ֔וֹד (the ephod), וְאֶת־ (and) הַתְּרָפִ֖ים (the teraphim), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה (the molten image). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest), מָ֥ה (What) אַתֶּ֖ם (you⁺) עֹשִֽׂים׃ (are doing)?

19  וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ (And they said) ל֨וֹ (to him) הַחֲרֵ֜שׁ (Be quiet), שִֽׂים־ (put) יָדְךָ֤ (your hand) עַל־ (over) פִּ֙יךָ֙ (your mouth), וְלֵ֣ךְ (and come) עִמָּ֔נוּ (with us), וֶֽהְיֵה־ (and be) לָ֖נוּ (to us) לְאָ֣ב (a father) וּלְכֹהֵ֑ן (and a priest). הֲט֣וֹב׀ (Is it better) הֱיוֹתְךָ֣ (for you to be) כֹהֵ֗ן (a priest) לְבֵית֙ (to the house) אִ֣ישׁ (of man) אֶחָ֔ד (one), א֚וֹ (or) הֱיוֹתְךָ֣ (for you to be) כֹהֵ֔ן (a priest) לְשֵׁ֥בֶט (to a tribe) וּלְמִשְׁפָּחָ֖ה (and to a family) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel)?

20  וַיִּיטַב֙ (And was glad) לֵ֣ב (the heart) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (of the priest), וַיִּקַּח֙ (and he took) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד (the ephod), וְאֶת־ (and) הַתְּרָפִ֖ים (the teraphim), וְאֶת־ (and) הַפָּ֑סֶל (the carved image), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and took his place) בְּקֶ֥רֶב (among) הָעָֽם׃ (the people). 21  וַיִּפְנ֖וּ (And they turned) וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ (and departed), וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ (and they put) אֶת־ (-) הַטַּ֧ף (the little ones) וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּקְנֶ֛ה (the livestock) וְאֶת־ (and) הַכְּבוּדָּ֖ה (the goods) לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (before their faces).

22  הֵ֥מָּה (They) הִרְחִ֖יקוּ (were far off) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) מִיכָ֑ה (of Micah), וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (and the men) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who were) בַּבָּתִּים֙ (in the houses) אֲשֶׁר֙ (that) עִם־ (were near) בֵּ֣ית (the house) מִיכָ֔ה (of Micah) נִֽזְעֲק֔וּ (gathered together), וַיַּדְבִּ֖יקוּ (and they overtook) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) דָֽן׃ (of Dan). 23  וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ (And they called out) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) דָ֔ן (of Dan). וַיַּסֵּ֖בּוּ (And they turned) פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (around) וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and said) לְמִיכָ֔ה (to Micah), מַה־ (What) לְּךָ֖ (ails you) כִּ֥י (that) נִזְעָֽקְתָּ׃ (you have gathered such a company)?

24  וַיֹּ֡אמֶר (And he said), אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהַי֩ (my gods) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשִׂ֨יתִי (I made) לְקַחְתֶּ֧ם (you⁺ have taken), וְֽאֶת־ (and) הַכֹּהֵ֛ן (the priest), וַתֵּלְכ֖וּ (and you⁺ have gone away). וּמַה־ (And what) לִּ֣י (is unto me) ע֑וֹד (more)? וּמַה־ (And what) זֶּ֛ה (is this) תֹּאמְר֥וּ (you⁺ say) אֵלַ֖י (to me): מַה־ (What) לָּֽךְ׃ (ails you).

25  וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) דָ֔ן (of Dan), אַל־ (Not) תַּשְׁמַ֥ע (do let be heard) קוֹלְךָ֖ (your voice) עִמָּ֑נוּ (among us), פֶּֽן־ (lest) יִפְגְּע֣וּ (fall) בָכֶ֗ם (upon you⁺) אֲנָשִׁים֙ (men) מָ֣רֵי (angry) נֶ֔פֶשׁ (in soul), וְאָסַפְתָּ֥ה (and you lose) נַפְשְׁךָ֖ (your life) וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ (and the lives) בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃ (of your house).

26  וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (And went) בְנֵי־ (the sons) דָ֖ן (of Dan) לְדַרְכָּ֑ם (their way). וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) מִיכָ֗ה (Micah) כִּי־ (that) חֲזָקִ֥ים (stronger) הֵ֙מָּה֙ (they were) מִמֶּ֔נּוּ (than he), וַיִּ֖פֶן (and he turned) וַיָּ֥שָׁב (and went back) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (his house).

27  וְהֵ֨מָּה (And they) לָקְח֜וּ (took) אֵ֧ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that which) עָשָׂ֣ה (had made) מִיכָ֗ה (Micah) וְֽאֶת־ (and) הַכֹּהֵן֮ (the priest) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) הָיָה־ (had belonged) לוֹ֒ (to him), וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (and they came) עַל־ (to) לַ֗יִשׁ (Laish), עַל־ (to) עַם֙ (a people) שֹׁקֵ֣ט (quiet) וּבֹטֵ֔חַ (and unsuspecting), וַיַּכּ֥וּ (and they struck) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חָ֑רֶב (of the sword), וְאֶת־ (and) הָעִ֖יר (the city) שָׂרְפ֥וּ (they burned) בָאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire). 28  וְאֵ֨ין (And there was no) מַצִּ֜יל (deliverer), כִּ֧י (because) רְֽחוֹקָה־ (far) הִ֣יא (it was) מִצִּיד֗וֹן (from Sidon), וְדָבָ֤ר (and ties) אֵין־ (had not) לָהֶם֙ (they) עִם־ (with) אָדָ֔ם (anyone). וְהִ֕יא (And it was) בָּעֵ֖מֶק (in the valley) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that belongs) לְבֵית־ (to Beth-) רְח֑וֹב (rehob).

וַיִּבְנ֥וּ (And they rebuilt) אֶת־ (-) הָעִ֖יר (the city) וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ (and dwelt) בָֽהּ׃ (there). 29  וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ (And they called) שֵׁם־ (the name) הָעִיר֙ (of the city) דָּ֔ן (Dan), בְּשֵׁם֙ (after the name) דָּ֣ן (of Dan) אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (their father) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יוּלַּ֖ד (was born) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (to Israel). וְאוּלָ֛ם (But) לַ֥יִשׁ (Laish) שֵׁם־ (was the name) הָעִ֖יר (of the city) לָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ (formerly).

30  וַיָּקִ֧ימוּ (And set up) לָהֶ֛ם (for themselves) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) דָ֖ן (of Dan) אֶת־ (-) הַפָּ֑סֶל (the carved image). וִ֠יהוֹנָתָן (And Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) גֵּרְשֹׁ֨ם (of Gershom) בֶּן־ (son) מְנַשֶּׁ֜ה (of Manasseh) ה֣וּא (he) וּבָנָ֗יו (and his sons)— הָי֤וּ (were) כֹהֲנִים֙ (priests) לְשֵׁ֣בֶט (to the tribe) הַדָּנִ֔י (of the Danite) עַד־ (until) י֖וֹם (the day) גְּל֥וֹת (of the captivity) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the land).

31  וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ (And they set up) לָהֶ֔ם (for themselves) אֶת־ (-) פֶּ֥סֶל (the carved image) מִיכָ֖ה (from Micah), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) עָשָׂ֑ה (he had made), כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֛י (the days) הֱי֥וֹת (being) בֵּית־ (of the house) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃פ (in Shiloh).