International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Back in those days, Israel didn't have a king yet, and during that time the tribe of Dan had been seeking a territorial inheritance to live in, because up until that time no territory had been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.

1בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבַיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם שֵׁ֣בֶט הַדָּנִ֞י מְבַקֶּשׁ־ ל֤וֹ נַֽחֲלָה֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת כִּי֩ לֹֽא־ נָ֨פְלָה לּ֜וֹ עַד־ הַיּ֥וֹם הַה֛וּא בְּתוֹךְ־ שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּנַחֲלָֽה׃ ס

2So the tribe of Dan sent from their families five valiant men of their number from Zorah and Eshtaol to scout the land and search through it. Following their orders, which were "Go and scout the land," they came to the mountainous region of Ephraim, arrived at Micah's home, and stayed there.

2וַיִּשְׁלְח֣וּ בְנֵי־ דָ֣ן ׀ מִֽמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּ֡ם חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֣ים מִקְצוֹתָם֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים בְּנֵי־ חַ֜יִל מִצָּרְעָ֣ה וּמֵֽאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗ל לְרַגֵּ֤ל אֶת־ הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וּלְחָקְרָ֔הּ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לְכ֖וּ חִקְר֣וּ אֶת־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ הַר־ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ עַד־ בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ שָֽׁם׃

3As they approached Micah's home, they recognized the voice of the young male descendant of Levi. They turned aside from there and spoke to him, asking him, "Who brought you here? What work are you doing here? And what's your business here?"

3הֵ֚מָּה עִם־ בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה וְהֵ֣מָּה הִכִּ֔ירוּ אֶת־ ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר הַלֵּוִ֑י וַיָּס֣וּרוּ שָׁ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ מִֽי־ הֱבִיאֲךָ֣ הֲלֹ֔ם וּמָֽה־ אַתָּ֥ה עֹשֶׂ֛ה בָּזֶ֖ה וּמַה־ לְּךָ֥ פֹֽה׃

4He answered, "Micah did such and such for me, and has hired me, so I've become his priest."

4וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כָּזֹ֣ה וְכָזֶ֔ה עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י מִיכָ֑ה וַיִּשְׂכְּרֵ֕נִי וָאֱהִי־ ל֖וֹ לְכֹהֵֽן׃

5They replied, "Go ask God, please, about whether or not we'll be successful in this journey."

5וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ ל֖וֹ שְׁאַל־ נָ֣א בֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה הֲתַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֵּ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנַ֖חְנוּ הֹלְכִ֥ים עָלֶֽיהָ׃

6The priest responded to them, "Travel in peace. The mission that you're to accomplish is from the LORD."

6וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לָהֶ֛ם הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לְכ֣וּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם נֹ֣כַח יְהוָ֔ה דַּרְכְּכֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־ בָֽהּ׃ פ

7So the five men left and went to Laish, and observed the people who were living there carefree, as Sidonians tend to do, in peace and quiet. There was no ruler in the land oppressing them for any reason. They were living far away from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone.

7וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ לָ֑יְשָׁה וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶת־ הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־ בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ יוֹשֶֽׁבֶת־ לָ֠בֶטַח כְּמִשְׁפַּ֨ט צִדֹנִ֜ים שֹׁקֵ֣ט ׀ וּבֹטֵ֗חַ וְאֵין־ מַכְלִ֨ים דָּבָ֤ר בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ יוֹרֵ֣שׁ עֶ֔צֶר וּרְחֹקִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ מִצִּ֣דֹנִ֔ים וְדָבָ֥ר אֵין־ לָהֶ֖ם עִם־ אָדָֽם׃

8When they returned to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What's your report?"

8וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־ אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם צָרְעָ֖ה וְאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם מָ֥ה אַתֶּֽם׃

9They replied, "Let's get going and attack them. We've scouted out the land—and look!—it's a very good one. Why should we sit still? We can't wait to go back, invade, and take over the land.

9וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ ק֚וּמָה וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֤י רָאִ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאַתֶּ֣ם מַחְשִׁ֔ים אַל־ תֵּעָ֣צְל֔וּ לָלֶ֥כֶת לָבֹ֖א לָרֶ֥שֶׁת אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

10When you invade, you'll meet a carefree people living in a spacious territory. God has given it into your control—it's a place that lacks nothing on this earth!"

10כְּבֹאֲכֶ֞ם תָּבֹ֣אוּ ׀ אֶל־ עַ֣ם בֹּטֵ֗חַ וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ רַחֲבַ֣ת יָדַ֔יִם כִּֽי־ נְתָנָ֥הּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם מָקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־ שָׁ֣ם מַחְס֔וֹר כָּל־ דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

11So 600 descendants of Dan from Zorah and Eshtaol set out for battle, armed with military weapons.

11וַיִּסְע֤וּ מִשָּׁם֙ מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַדָּנִ֔י מִצָּרְעָ֖ה וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל שֵֽׁשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֔ישׁ חָג֖וּר כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה׃

12They went out and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in the territory of Judah. (That's why they call the place Mahaneh-dan to this day. It lies west of Kiriath-jearim.)

12וַֽיַּעֲל֗וּ וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּ בְּקִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִ֖ים בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה עַל־ כֵּ֡ן קָרְאוּ֩ לַמָּק֨וֹם הַה֜וּא מַחֲנֵה־ דָ֗ן עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה הִנֵּ֕ה אַחֲרֵ֖י קִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִֽים׃

13They proceeded from there to the mountainous region of Ephraim and arrived at Micah's house.

13וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ מִשָּׁ֖ם הַר־ אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־ בֵּ֥ית מִיכָֽה׃

14Then the five men who had gone to scout out the territory of Laish told their relatives, "Are you aware that in these houses there's an ephod, some household idols, a carved image, and a cast image? You know what you need to do."

14וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַהֹלְכִים֮ לְרַגֵּל֮ אֶת־ הָאָ֣רֶץ לַיִשׁ֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־ אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֠י יֵ֣שׁ בַּבָּתִּ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֵפ֣וֹד וּתְרָפִ֔ים וּפֶ֖סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֑ה וְעַתָּ֖ה דְּע֥וּ מַֽה־ תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃

15So they turned aside from there, went to Micah's house, and greeted him.

15וַיָּס֣וּרוּ שָׁ֔מָּה וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־ בֵּֽית־ הַנַּ֥עַר הַלֵּוִ֖י בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־ ל֖וֹ לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

16While the 600 Danite soldiers, armed with military weapons, stood guard at the entrance to the gate,

16וְשֵׁשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ חֲגוּרִים֙ כְּלֵ֣י מִלְחַמְתָּ֔ם נִצָּבִ֖ים פֶּ֣תַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִבְּנֵי־ דָֽן׃

17the five men who had gone to scout out the land arrived, entered Micah's home and confiscated the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast image. Meanwhile, the priest stood outside by the entrance to the gate with the 600 men armed with military weapons.

17וַֽיַּעֲל֞וּ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַהֹלְכִים֮ לְרַגֵּ֣ל אֶת־ הָאָרֶץ֒ בָּ֣אוּ שָׁ֔מָּה לָקְח֗וּ אֶת־ הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ וְאֶת־ הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד וְאֶת־ הַתְּרָפִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן נִצָּב֙ פֶּ֣תַח הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְשֵׁשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת הָאִ֔ישׁ הֶחָג֖וּר כְּלֵ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃

18After they went into Micah's home and took possession of the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast image, the priest challenged them. "What are you doing?" he asked them.

18וְאֵ֗לֶּה בָּ֚אוּ בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־ פֶּ֣סֶל הָאֵפ֔וֹד וְאֶת־ הַתְּרָפִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן מָ֥ה אַתֶּ֖ם עֹשִֽׂים׃

19They told him, "Shut up and keep quiet. Come with us and be our spiritual father and priest. It's better for you, isn't it, to be a priest to an entire tribe and family in Israel than to be priest to the home of one man?"

19וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ ל֨וֹ הַחֲרֵ֜שׁ שִֽׂים־ יָדְךָ֤ עַל־ פִּ֙יךָ֙ וְלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔נוּ וֶֽהְיֵה־ לָ֖נוּ לְאָ֣ב וּלְכֹהֵ֑ן הֲט֣וֹב ׀ הֱיוֹתְךָ֣ כֹהֵ֗ן לְבֵית֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד א֚וֹ הֱיוֹתְךָ֣ כֹהֵ֔ן לְשֵׁ֥בֶט וּלְמִשְׁפָּחָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

20The priest was happy to oblige, so he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image and went along with the army.

20וַיִּיטַב֙ לֵ֣ב הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־ הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד וְאֶת־ הַתְּרָפִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הַפָּ֑סֶל וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעָֽם׃

21Then they turned around and left, sending their little ones, their livestock, and their valuables on ahead.

21וַיִּפְנ֖וּ וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ אֶת־ הַטַּ֧ף וְאֶת־ הַמִּקְנֶ֛ה וְאֶת־ הַכְּבוּדָּ֖ה לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

22When they had been gone a short distance from Micah's home, some of Micah's neighbors assembled a search party and overtook the descendants of Dan.

22הֵ֥מָּה הִרְחִ֖יקוּ מִבֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֑ה וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּבָּתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עִם־ בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה נִֽזְעֲק֔וּ וַיַּדְבִּ֖יקוּ אֶת־ בְּנֵי־ דָֽן׃

23They yelled at the descendants of Dan, who turned around to face Micah and asked, "What's wrong with you? You've assembled together…?"

23וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ אֶל־ בְּנֵי־ דָ֔ן וַיַּסֵּ֖בּוּ פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְמִיכָ֔ה מַה־ לְּךָ֖ כִּ֥י נִזְעָֽקְתָּ׃

24Micah replied, "You took my gods that I crafted, along with the priest, and left! What do I have left? So what's with this 'What's wrong with you?'"

24וַיֹּ֡אמֶר אֶת־ אֱלֹהַי֩ אֲשֶׁר־ עָשִׂ֨יתִי לְקַחְתֶּ֧ם וְֽאֶת־ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן וַתֵּלְכ֖וּ וּמַה־ לִּ֣י ע֑וֹד וּמַה־ זֶּ֛ה תֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלַ֖י מַה־ לָּֽךְ׃

25The descendants of Dan answered him, "You had better not talk to us about this, or else these bad guys here will attack you. You will lose your life, along with the lives of your whole household."

25וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ בְּנֵי־ דָ֔ן אַל־ תַּשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלְךָ֖ עִמָּ֑נוּ פֶּֽן־ יִפְגְּע֣וּ בָכֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁים֙ מָ֣רֵי נֶ֔פֶשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֥ה נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃

26Then the descendants of Dan went on their way. Because Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back home.

26וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ בְנֵי־ דָ֖ן לְדַרְכָּ֑ם וַיַּ֣רְא מִיכָ֗ה כִּי־ חֲזָקִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וַיִּ֖פֶן וַיָּ֥שָׁב אֶל־ בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

27But 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.

27וְהֵ֨מָּה לָקְח֜וּ אֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֣ה מִיכָ֗ה וְֽאֶת־ הַכֹּהֵן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָה־ לוֹ֒ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ עַל־ לַ֗יִשׁ עַל־ עַם֙ שֹׁקֵ֣ט וּבֹטֵ֔חַ וַיַּכּ֥וּ אוֹתָ֖ם לְפִי־ חָ֑רֶב וְאֶת־ הָעִ֖יר שָׂרְפ֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

28They had no one else to deliver them, because they lived far from Sidon and had no dealings with anyone. It lay in the valley near Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it.

28וְאֵ֨ין מַצִּ֜יל כִּ֧י רְֽחוֹקָה־ הִ֣יא מִצִּיד֗וֹן וְדָבָ֤ר אֵין־ לָהֶם֙ עִם־ אָדָ֔ם וְהִ֕יא בָּעֵ֖מֶק אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְבֵית־ רְח֑וֹב וַיִּבְנ֥וּ אֶת־ הָעִ֖יר וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ בָֽהּ׃

29They renamed the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who had been born in Israel. The former name of the city was Laish.

29וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ שֵׁם־ הָעִיר֙ דָּ֔ן בְּשֵׁם֙ דָּ֣ן אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוּלַּ֖ד לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאוּלָ֛ם לַ֥יִשׁ שֵׁם־ הָעִ֖יר לָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃

30The descendants of Dan set up the carved image, and Gershom's son Jonathan, a descendant of Manasseh, served along with his descendants as priests to the tribe of Dan until the land was taken captive.

30וַיָּקִ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בְּנֵי־ דָ֖ן אֶת־ הַפָּ֑סֶל וִ֠יהוֹנָתָן בֶּן־ גֵּרְשֹׁ֨ם בֶּן־ מְנַ‪‬שֶּׁ֜ה ה֣וּא וּבָנָ֗יו הָי֤וּ כֹהֲנִים֙ לְשֵׁ֣בֶט הַדָּנִ֔י עַד־ י֖וֹם גְּל֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

31Micah's carved image, that he himself had crafted, was in place during the entire time that God's tent was set up at Shiloh.

31וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ לָהֶ֔ם אֶת־ פֶּ֥סֶל מִיכָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה כָּל־ יְמֵ֛י הֱי֥וֹת בֵּית־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ פ

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.