Judges 18:27 After they had taken Micah's idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a tranquil and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city.

◄ Judges 18:27 ►

New International Version
Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city.

New Living Translation
Then, with Micah’s idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked with swords and burned the town to the ground.

English Standard Version
But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.

Berean Standard Bible
After they had taken Micah’s idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city.

King James Bible
And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

New King James Version
So they took the things Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.

New American Standard Bible
Then they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burned the city with fire.

NASB 1995
Then they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burned the city with fire.

NASB 1977
Then they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burned the city with fire.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burned the city with fire.

Amplified Bible
They took the [idolatrous] things that Micah had made, and his priest, and they came to Laish, to a people who were quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.

Christian Standard Bible
After they had taken the gods Micah had made and the priest that belonged to him, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people. They killed them with their swords and burned the city.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After they had taken the gods Micah had made and the priest that belonged to him, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people. They killed them with their swords and burned down the city.

American Standard Version
And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

English Revised Version
And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people of Dan took what Micah had made and the man who had become his priest and went to the city of Laish. They attacked a peaceful and secure people, killed them all with swords, and burned their city.

International Standard Version
But the descendants of Dan took what Micah had made, along with the priest who had worked for him, and went to Laish, to a quiet and carefree people, and killed them with swords. Then they set fire to the city.

Majority Standard Bible
After they had taken Micah?s idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came to Laish, to a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

World English Bible
They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword; then they burned the city with fire.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they have taken that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and come in against Laish, against a people quiet and confident, and strike them by the mouth of the sword, and have burned the city with fire,

Young's Literal Translation
And they have taken that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and come in against Laish, against a people quiet and confident, and smite them by the mouth of the sword, and the city have burnt with fire,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they took what Micah made, and the priest which was to him, and they will go to Laish, upon a people quiet and confiding: and they will strike them with the mouth of the sword, and they will burn the city with fire.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the six hundred men took the priest, and the things we spoke of before, and came to Lais to a people that was quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword: and the city was burnt with fire,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the six hundred men took the priest, and the things we stated above, and they went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and they struck them down with the edge of the sword. And they burned the city with fire.

New American Bible
Having taken what Micah had made and his priest, they marched against Laish, a quiet and trusting people; they put them to the sword and destroyed the city by fire.

New Revised Standard Version
The Danites, having taken what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, put them to the sword, and burned down the city.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they took the things which Micah had made and the priest that he had, and came to Laish against the people who were rich and quiet; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burned the city with fire.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And those took the thing that Mikah made and they took the Priest who was his, and they entered Lish against the rich and quiet people and they struck them with the mouth of the sword, and the city they burned in fire

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the children of Dan took what Michaias had made, and the priest that he had, and they came to Laisa, to a people quiet and secure; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Danites Take Micah's Idols
…26So the Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were too strong for him. 27After they had taken Micah’s idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a tranquil and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city. 28There was no one to deliver them, because the city was far from Sidon and had no alliance with anyone; it was in a valley near Beth-rehob. And the Danites rebuilt the city and lived there.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 19:47
(Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)

Judges 1:34
The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down into the plain.

Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Deuteronomy 12:8
You are not to do as we are doing here today, where everyone does what seems right in his own eyes.

1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

2 Kings 17:29-33
Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. / The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, / the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. ...

Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.

Hosea 4:9
And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

John 10:12
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

Acts 20:29
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Treasury of Scripture

And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came to Laish, to a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

Laish

Judges 18:7,10
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…

they smote

Deuteronomy 33:22
And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

Joshua 19:47
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

burnt

Joshua 11:11
And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.

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Attacked Belonged Burned Burnt City Confident Danger Danites Edge Laish Mercy Micah Mouth Peaceful Priest Quiet Quietly Secure Smite Smote Struck Sword Thought Unsuspecting

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Attacked Belonged Burned Burnt City Confident Danger Danites Edge Laish Mercy Micah Mouth Peaceful Priest Quiet Quietly Secure Smite Smote Struck Sword Thought Unsuspecting

Judges 18

1. The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance
3. At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged
7. They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope
11. Six hundred men are sent to surprise it
16. In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things
27. They win Laish, and call it Dan
30. They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

After they had taken Micah’s idols and his priest
This phrase refers to the Danites' actions in taking the religious artifacts and the Levite priest from Micah's household. This reflects the spiritual confusion and idolatry prevalent in Israel during the time of the Judges, a period marked by the repeated cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The taking of idols and a priest highlights the syncretism and the lack of true worship of Yahweh, as the Danites sought to establish their own religious practices rather than adhering to the covenantal laws given to Israel.

they went to Laish
Laish, later known as Dan, was located in the northernmost part of Israel. The geographical location is significant as it marks the extent of Israel's territory from "Dan to Beersheba." Archaeological evidence suggests that Laish was a prosperous and isolated city, which made it an attractive target for the Danites. The journey to Laish signifies the tribe of Dan's search for a permanent inheritance, as they had not yet secured their allotted territory.

to a quiet and unsuspecting people
The description of the people of Laish as "quiet and unsuspecting" indicates their peaceful nature and lack of preparedness for an attack. This reflects the moral decline in Israel, where the Danites, rather than seeking God's guidance, chose to exploit the vulnerability of others for their gain. The peacefulness of Laish contrasts with the aggressive actions of the Danites, highlighting the ethical and spiritual decay during this period.

and they struck them with their swords
The violent conquest of Laish by the Danites is a stark reminder of the lawlessness and brutality that characterized the era of the Judges. This act of aggression was not sanctioned by God, as the Danites acted out of self-interest rather than divine command. The use of swords signifies the physical force and warfare that were common in territorial expansions during ancient times.

and burned down the city
Burning the city of Laish symbolizes total destruction and the complete takeover by the Danites. This act ensured that the original inhabitants could not reclaim their land, allowing the Danites to establish their own settlement. The destruction of Laish can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual desolation in Israel, where the true worship of God was often replaced by idolatry and self-serving actions. The burning of the city also foreshadows the eventual judgment and exile that would come upon Israel due to their continued disobedience and idolatry.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Micah
An Ephraimite who created a shrine with idols and hired a Levite to be his personal priest. His actions reflect the spiritual confusion and idolatry prevalent in Israel during this period.

2. The Danites
A tribe of Israel seeking a territory to settle. They took Micah's idols and priest, demonstrating their disregard for God's commandments and the established order of worship.

3. Laish
A peaceful and unsuspecting city, which the Danites attacked and destroyed. This event highlights the moral decline and lawlessness in Israel during the time of the Judges.

4. The Levite Priest
Initially serving Micah, he was enticed by the Danites to serve as their priest, showing the corruption and opportunism among the religious leaders of the time.

5. The Idols
Represent the false worship and idolatry that had infiltrated Israel, contrary to the worship of Yahweh as commanded in the Law.

Teaching Points

The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry leads to spiritual blindness and moral decay. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism or self-worship.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Disregarding God's commandments leads to chaos and destruction, as seen in the fate of Laish. Obedience to God brings order and blessing.

The Role of Spiritual Leadership
Leaders must remain faithful to God's Word. The Levite's actions warn against compromising truth for personal gain.

The Importance of Community Vigilance
The unsuspecting nature of Laish serves as a reminder for communities to be spiritually vigilant and discerning.

God's Sovereignty Amidst Chaos
Even in times of moral decline, God remains sovereign. Believers can trust in His ultimate plan and justice.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(27) Burnt the city with fire.--This was unusual, for we are told that Hazor was the only city which Joshua burnt (Joshua 11:13). Perhaps they had devoted the city by a ban, as Jericho was devoted (Joshua 6:24); or the burning may have been due to policy or to accident. Probably the notion that such conduct was cruel and unjustifiable never occurred to them; nor must we judge them by the standard of Christian times. But Dan was no gainer. His name disappears from the records of 1Chronicles 4:1, and he is not mentioned among the elected tribes in Revelation 7. Blunt (Undesigned Coincidences, pt. 2, 4) conjectures, from 2Chronicles 2:14, that the cause of their disappearance from Israelite records--the latest mention of them as a tribe being in 1Chronicles 27:22--was due to their intermarriages with the Ph?nicians.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - And they. In the Hebrew the they is emphatic. It would be better expressed in English by repeating The children of Dan. The repetition of the epithets quiet and secure, as applied to the people of Laish, rather seems to indicate the writer's reprobation of the deed as cruel, like that of Simeon and Levi in slaying Hamor and Shechem. They smote them with the edge of the sword - a phrase denoting an exterminating slaughter (Exodus 34:26; Joshua 19:47; 1 Samuel 15:8, etc.). And they burnt the city, etc. Perhaps they had made the people and city a cherem, a devoted thing, and therefore slew the one and burnt the other (cf. Numbers 21:3; Joshua 8:19; Joshua 11:11, etc.); or the burning of the city may have been one of the means by which they destroyed the people.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

After they
וְהֵ֨מָּה (wə·hêm·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

had taken
לָקְח֜וּ (lā·qə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3947: To take

Micah's
מִיכָ֗ה (mî·ḵāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4318: Micah -- the name of several Israelites

[idols]
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

and his priest,
הַכֹּהֵן֮ (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

they went
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Laish,
לַ֗יִשׁ (la·yiš)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3919: Laish -- 'lion', a city and region in northern Canaan

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a tranquil
שֹׁקֵ֣ט (šō·qêṭ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8252: To be quiet or undisturbed

and unsuspecting
וּבֹטֵ֔חַ (ū·ḇō·ṭê·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 982: To trust, be confident, sure

people,
עַם֙ (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and they struck
וַיַּכּ֥וּ (way·yak·kū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

them
אוֹתָ֖ם (’ō·w·ṯām)
Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

with their swords
חָ֑רֶב (ḥā·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

and burned down
שָׂרְפ֥וּ (śā·rə·p̄ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

the city.
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

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OT History: Judges 18:27 They took that which Micah had made (Jd Judg. Jdg)