📖 Judges — Chapter 18 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Judges 18:1 In those days there was Rno king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
Judges 18:2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, Tmen of valour, from RZorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
Judges 18:3 When they were by the house of Micah, Rthey knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
Judges 18:4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath Rhired me, and I am his priest.
Judges 18:5 And they said unto him, RAsk counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
Judges 18:6 And the priest said unto them, RGo in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
Judges 18:7 Then the five men departed, and came to RTLaish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no Tmagistrate 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.
Judges 18:8 And they came unto their brethren to RZorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
Judges 18:9 And they said, RArise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
Judges 18:10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people Rsecure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
Judges 18:11 And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men Tappointed with weapons of war.
Judges 18:12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
Judges 18:13 And they passed thence unto Rmount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
Judges 18:14 RThen answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
Judges 18:15 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and RTsaluted him.
Judges 18:16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
Judges 18:17 And the Rfive men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
Judges 18:18 And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
Judges 18:19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, Rlay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
Judges 18:20 And the priest’s Rheart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
Judges 18:21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
Judges 18:22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
Judges 18:23 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, RWhat aileth thee, that thou Tcomest with such a company?
Judges 18:24 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and Rwhat have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
Judges 18:25 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest RTangry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
Judges 18:26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
Judges 18:27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto RLaish, 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.
Judges 18:28 RAnd there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
Judges 18:29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, Rwho was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
Judges 18:30 And the children of Dan Rset up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
Judges 18:31 And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, Rall the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 18:1–10 — Dan searches and receives reassurance
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Danite spies seek land, encounter Micah's Levite, and ask for counsel. They find Laish quiet and secure and recommend an attack. Their claim that God has given the land is reported as their speech; it is not accompanied here by a direct command from the LORD.
Key Truth: A character's claim about God's approval should be distinguished from God's own revealed command.
Check What You Remember
1. Which tribe sent the spies? (Judges 18:1)
Find it in Judges 18:1 (KJV).
2. How many spies were sent? (Judges 18:2)
Find it in Judges 18:2 (KJV).
3. Which town did they find quiet and secure? (Judges 18:7)
Find it in Judges 18:7 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 18:11–26 — Micah's images and priest are taken
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Six hundred armed Danites seize Micah's images and invite his priest to serve a tribe instead of one household. The priest is glad to go. Micah protests that his gods and priest have been taken, but threats force him to return home.
Key Truth: The theft exposes the helplessness of gods that people manufacture and possess.
Check What You Remember
1. How many armed Danites set out? (Judges 18:11)
Find it in Judges 18:11 (KJV).
2. Which office did the Danites offer the Levite? (Judges 18:19)
Find it in Judges 18:19 (KJV).
3. Who protested the loss of his gods and priest? (Judges 18:23)
Find it in Judges 18:23 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 18:27–31 — Laish becomes Dan and idolatry continues
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Danites attack Laish, burn it, rebuild, and rename it Dan. They establish the graven image and a priestly line. The closing comparison with God's house at Shiloh underscores the persistence of the unauthorized shrine.
Key Truth: A larger following does not turn a graven image into faithful worship.
Check What You Remember
1. What name replaced Laish? (Judges 18:29)
Find it in Judges 18:29 (KJV).
2. Which priest is named in verse 30? (Judges 18:30)
Find it in Judges 18:30 (KJV).
3. Where was the house of God? (Judges 18:31)
Find it in Judges 18:31 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Judges 17:13 — Micah's earlier confidence in his priest precedes the loss of both priest and images.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What does Micah's protest reveal about the objects in which he placed his confidence? Notice how private idolatry becomes a tribal practice.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How do the spies’ report and Laish’s condition support their proposed attack?
2. What comparison persuades the Levite to accompany the Danites?
3. How does Micah describe the loss when he protests?
4. What reason is given for Laish having no deliverer?
5. What contrast closes the account of Dan’s graven image?
Notes
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