The Conquest of Laish is a significant event recorded in the Book of Judges, specifically in Judges 18. This event marks the expansion of the tribe of Dan and their establishment in a new territory, which they renamed Dan after their ancestor.

Historical Context

The tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, originally received an inheritance in the southern part of the land of Canaan. However, they struggled to fully possess their allotted territory due to the presence of strong Canaanite inhabitants. As a result, the Danites sought a new land where they could settle and thrive.

The Spying Mission

The narrative begins with the Danites sending five men from Zorah and Eshtaol to explore the land and find a suitable place for settlement. These men journeyed northward and arrived at Laish, a city inhabited by a peaceful and unsuspecting people. Judges 18:7 describes Laish as a place where "the people lived in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure. There was no ruler to put them to shame for anything in the land, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone."

The Report and Decision

Upon returning, the spies reported to their fellow Danites about the prosperous and undefended nature of Laish. Encouraged by this report, the Danites decided to take action. Judges 18:9-10 records their words: "Arise, 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. When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people, and the land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth."

The Conquest

The Danites assembled a force of 600 men armed for battle and set out to conquer Laish. On their way, they stopped at the house of Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim, and took his carved image, ephod, household gods, and a Levite priest who served there. This act of taking the religious artifacts and the priest signified the Danites' desire to establish their own religious center in their new territory.

Upon reaching Laish, the Danites attacked the city, which was unprepared for war. Judges 18:27-28 recounts the event: "Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone."

Settlement and Renaming

After the conquest, the Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. They renamed the city Dan, in honor of their forefather, who was one of the sons of Jacob. Judges 18:29 states, "They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel, though the city was formerly named Laish."

Religious Significance

The Danites established a center of worship in their new city, using the religious items taken from Micah's house. This act, however, was contrary to the centralization of worship that God had commanded for Israel, as it led to idolatry and deviation from the prescribed worship in the tabernacle at Shiloh.

Legacy

The Conquest of Laish and the establishment of the city of Dan had lasting implications for the tribe of Dan and the history of Israel. The city of Dan became a significant location in the northern kingdom of Israel, often associated with idolatry and deviation from true worship. This event highlights the challenges faced by the tribes of Israel in fully possessing the land and remaining faithful to God's commands.