Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 18

81 catchwords337 parallels

← Judges | ← Ch 17 | Ch 19 →

Judges 18 . 1 , The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance; Judges 18 . 3 , At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan , and are encouraged on their way; Judges 18 . 7 , They search Laish , and bring back news of good hope; Judges 18 . 11 , Six hundred men are sent to surprise it; Judges 18 . 14 , In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things; Judges 18 . 27 , They win Laish , and call it Dan; Judges 18 . 30 , They set up idolatry , wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood.

Judges 18:1

In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites was looking for territory to occupy. For up to that time they had not come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

Judges 18:1 · BSB

no king5 parallels

The word mailech , which generally means a king , is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler , governor , or judge . see note on

the tribe1 parallel

for unto1 parallel

Reciprocal4 parallels

Judges 18:2

So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. “Go and explore the land,” they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.

Judges 18:2 · BSB

Zorah7 parallels

to spy4 parallels

mount4 parallels

Reciprocal5 parallels

men Heb. sons

Judges 18:3

And while they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”

Judges 18:3 · BSB

they knew3 parallels

They knew by his dialect or mode of pronunciation , that he was not an Ephraimite . see the parallel texts

and what hast1 parallel

Reciprocal3 parallels

Judges 18:4

“Micah has done this and that for me,” he replied, “and he has hired me to be his priest.”

Judges 18:4 · BSB

hired me16 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Judges 18:5

Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to determine whether we will have a successful journey.”

Judges 18:5 · BSB

Ask counsel6 parallels

of God3 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Judges 18:6

And the priest told them, “Go in peace. The LORD is watching over your journey.”

Judges 18:6 · BSB

Go in peace6 parallels

before3 parallels

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the Lord As the Levite uses the word Jehovah , and as the Danites succeeded according to the oracle delivered by him , some learned men are of opinion , that the worship established by Micah was not of an idolatrous kind.

Judges 18:7

So the five men departed and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living securely, like the Sidonians, tranquil and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. And they were far away from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone.

Judges 18:7 · BSB

Laish1 parallel

how they3 parallels

magistrate4 parallels

Heb. possessor , or , heir of restraint

Reciprocal12 parallels

and had no In the most correct copies of the LXX this clause stands thus; ךבי כןדןע ןץך חם בץפןיע לופב ץסיבע; "and they had no transactions with Syria;" evidently reading instead of אדם [Strong's H120] , adam , man , ארם [Strong's H758] , aram , Syria; words so nearly similar that the only difference between them is in the ר , raish , and ד , daleth , which in both manuscripts and printed books is sometimes indiscernible. Laish was situated on the frontiers of Syria.

Judges 18:8

When the men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, “What did you find?”

Judges 18:8 · BSB

Zorah and Eshtaol4 parallels

Reciprocal1 parallel

Judges 18:9

They answered, “Come on, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why would you fail to act? Do not hesitate to go there and take possession of the land!

Judges 18:9 · BSB

Arise4 parallels

are ye still1 parallel

be not8 parallels

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Judges 18:10

When you enter, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has delivered it into your hand. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.”

Judges 18:10 · BSB

secure2 parallels

God hath3 parallels

where there6 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Judges 18:11

So six hundred Danites departed from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war.

Judges 18:11 · BSB

appointed1 parallel

Heb. girded

Reciprocal4 parallels

Judges 18:12

They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.

Judges 18:12 · BSB

Kirjathjearim5 parallels

A city of Judah , on the confines of Benjamin; distant nine miles from Alia or Jerusalem , in going towards Diospolis or Lydda , according to Eusebius

Mahanehdan1 parallel

Reciprocal3 parallels

Judges 18:13

And from there they traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.

Judges 18:13 · BSB

mount Ephraim6 parallels

Judges 18:14

Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.”

Judges 18:14 · BSB

Then1 parallel

in these3 parallels

now therefore3 parallels

Reciprocal9 parallels

Judges 18:15

So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him.

Judges 18:15 · BSB

saluted him8 parallels

Heb. asked him of peace

Reciprocal2 parallels

Judges 18:16

The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance of the gate, armed with their weapons of war.

Judges 18:16 · BSB

six hundred1 parallel

Judges 18:17

And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.

Judges 18:17 · BSB

five men2 parallels

the graven11 parallels

Reciprocal6 parallels

Judges 18:18

When they entered Micah’s house and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

Judges 18:18 · BSB

Reciprocal4 parallels

Judges 18:19

“Be quiet,” they told him. “Put your hand over your mouth and come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?”

Judges 18:19 · BSB

lay thine6 parallels

This was the token of silence. These men were evidently very ignorant; and absurdly concluded that they should , by taking Micah's gods , secure the presence and favour of the God of Israel , in their expedition and settlement. They perhaps supposed the piety of their motives , and the goodness of their end , would justify the means. But it was a base robbery of Micah , aggravated by the Levite's ingratitude , and their menaces

a father6 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Judges 18:20

So the priest was glad and took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went with the people.

Judges 18:20 · BSB

heart10 parallels

Reciprocal4 parallels

went He was glad of his preferment among the Danites; and went into the crowd , that he might not be discovered by Micah or his family.

Judges 18:21

Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed.

Judges 18:21 · BSB

the carriage1 parallel

Kevoodah , from kavad , to be heavy , denotes the luggage or baggage

Reciprocal1 parallel

and put These men were so confident of success , that they removed their whole families , household goods , cattle , and all.

Judges 18:22

After they were some distance from Micah’s house, the men in the houses near Micah’s house mobilized and overtook the Danites.

Judges 18:22 · BSB

Reciprocal1 parallel

Judges 18:23

When they called out after them, the Danites turned to face them and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you that you have called out such a company?”

Judges 18:23 · BSB

What aileth6 parallels

Reciprocal3 parallels

comest Heb. art gathered together

Judges 18:24

He replied, “You took the gods I had made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What is the matter with you?’”

Judges 18:24 · BSB

what have10 parallels

Reciprocal12 parallels

Judges 18:25

The Danites said to him, “Do not raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”

Judges 18:25 · BSB

angry4 parallels

Heb. bitter of soul

Reciprocal2 parallels

Judges 18:26

So the Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were too strong for him.

Judges 18:26 · BSB

Reciprocal1 parallel

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 · BSB

Laish2 parallels

they smote2 parallels

burnt1 parallel

Reciprocal5 parallels

Judges 18:28

There 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.

Judges 18:28 · BSB

And there4 parallels

far from5 parallels

Probably the people of Laish were originally a colony of the Zidonians; who being an opulent people , and in possession of a strong city , lived in a state of security , not being afraid of their neighbours. In this the Leshemites imitated them , though they appear not to have had the same reason for their confidence; and though they might naturally expect help from their countrymen , yet as they lived at a considerable distance from Sidon , the Danites saw they could strike the blow before the news of the invasion could reach that city

Bethrehob2 parallels

Reciprocal4 parallels

Judges 18:29

They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city was formerly named Laish.

Judges 18:29 · BSB

Dan7 parallels

who was2 parallels

  • Genesis 30:6
  • Genesis 32:28 Laish , or Dan , was situated at the northern extremity of the land of Canaan , in a beautiful and fertile plain , at the foot of mount Lebanon , on the springs of Jordan , and , according to Eusebius , four miles from Cesarea Philippi , or Paneas , now Banias . with which some have confounded it towards Tyre. Burckhardt says , that the source of the river El Dhan , or Jordan , is at an hour's distance from Banias , which agrees with Eusebius

Reciprocal8 parallels

Judges 18:30

The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

Judges 18:30 · BSB

set up10 parallels

  • Exodus 20:4
  • Leviticus 26:1
  • Deuteronomy 17:2-7
  • Deuteronomy 27:15
  • Deuteronomy 31:16
  • Deuteronomy 31:29
  • Joshua 19:40-48
  • Psalm 78:58-61 God had graciously performed his promise , in putting these Danites in possession of that which fell to their lot , obliging them thereby to be faithful to him who had been so to them; they inherited the labour of the people , that they might observe his statues
  • Psalm 105:44
  • Psalm 105:45 But the first thing they do after they are settled is to break his laws , by setting up the graven image , attributing their success to that idol , which , if God had not been infinitely patient , would have been their ruin. Thus a prosperous idolater goes on to offend , imputing this his power unto his God. Instead of Manasseh , some would read Moses; as it is found in some manuscripts , in the Vulgate and in the concessions of the most intelligent Jews. But Bp. Patrick takes this to be an idle conceit of the Rabbins , and supposes this Jonathan to be of some other family of the Levites. Yet Kimchi acknowledges , that the Jews , deeply concerned for the honour of their lawgiver , to whom they thought it would be a great dishonour to have a grandson who was an idolater , suspended the letter , נ , noon , over the word מש [Strong's H4872] , [Strong's H4873] , Moses , thus מנשה [Strong's H4519] , as it is found in the Hebrew Bibles; which , by means of the points , they have changed into Manasseh

until4 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

the land Houbigant contends , that , instead of haaretz , "the land ," we should read haaron , "the ark;" for the ו , wav , and ן , noon final , might easily be mistaken for ץ , tzadday final; which is the only difference between the two words. This conjecture is the more likely , as the next #### Verse tells us , that Micah's graven image continued at Dan "all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh;" which was till the ark was taken by the Philistines.

Judges 18:31

So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges 18:31 · BSB

all the time6 parallels

Reciprocal3 parallels

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Echoes Acts 16:36 → Judges 18:6
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