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KJB-1611 1 The Danites send fiue men to seeke out an inheritance. 3 At the house of Micah they consult with Ionathan, and are incouraged in their way. 7 They search Laish, and bring backe newes of good hope. 11 Sixe hundred men are sent to surprize it. 14 In the way they robbe Micah of his Priest and his consecrate things. 27 They win Laish and call it Dan. 30 They set vp Idolatrie, wherein Ionathan inherited the Priesthood.
(1 The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance. 3 At the house of Micah they consult with Yonathan, and are incouraged in their way. 7 They search Laish, and bring back newes of good hope. 11 Sixe hundred men are sent to surprize it. 14 In the way they robbe Micah of his Priest and his consecrate things. 27 They win Laish and call it Dan. 30 They set up Idolatrie, wherein Yonathan inherited the Priesthood.)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Judges 18 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

In this chapter, the author continues to describe how idolatry took root in Israel, in the additional territory that the tribe of Dan conquered for itself.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The conquest of Laish by soldiers from the tribe of Dan

While the author does not say specifically that it was not right for the tribe of Dan to kill all the inhabitants of the city of Laish and take their territory, he indicates this implicitly. He notes that they were Sidonians, not Canaanites such as Yahweh had told the Israelites to drive out, and that they were living peacefully, not posing any threat. The Israelites had been given exceptional instructions to kill all of the Canaanites. Most interpreters believe that this was so that the Canaanites would not influence the Israelites to follow their practices, which were very wicked and destructive. But Yahweh did not tell the Israelites to kill all the people from other groups. So readers are meant to understand implicitly that the soldiers from Dan committed an atrocity against the people of Laish. The author is presenting this as evidence that Israel needed a godly king who would maintain order and justice throughout the land and protect vulnerable people.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

“an idol and a cast image”