THE TRIBE of DAN ADOPTS MICAH's IDOLATRY Judges 18:1-31

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Commentary by Ron Thomas, Questions by John C. Sewell, Answers by Wayne Harlan

THE TRIBE OF DAN ADOPTS MICAH’S IDOLATRY

Judges 18:1-31

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The Tribe of Dan Adopts Micah’s Idolatry

Text:

Judges 18:1-31,

1. In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 2. So the Danites sent five warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all their clans. They told them, "Go, explore the land." The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. 3. When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?" 4. He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest." 5. Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful." 6. The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval. "So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else. 7. When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "How did you find things?" 8. They answered, "Come on, let's attack them! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate

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to go there and take it over. 9. When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever." 10. Then six hundred men from the clan of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 11. On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan to this day. 12. From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house. 13. Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, other household gods, a carved image and a cast idol? Now you know what to do." 14. So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah's place and greeted him. 15. The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance to the gate. 16. The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance to the gate. 17. When these men went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"They answered him, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man's household?" 18. Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. 19. Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.

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20. When they had gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. 21. As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?" 22. He replied, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, 'What's the matter with you?' " 23. The Danites answered, "Don't argue with us, or some hot- tempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives." 24. So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home. 25. Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. 26. There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. 27. They named it Dan after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish. 28. There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. 29. They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh. (NIV)

Commentary:

I. The Tribe of Dan spied out the land allotted to them. Judges18:1-13

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A. Judges 18:1-13, In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. So the Danites sent five warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all their clans. They told them, "Go, explore the land." The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?" He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest." Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful." The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval." So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else. When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "How did you find things?" They answered, "Come on, let's attack them! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over. When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever." Then six hundred men from the clan of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan to this day. From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house. (NIV)

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1. Summary: Judges 18:1. Each of the last five chapters starts or includes the notion that there was no king in Israel.

a. Judges 18:1, In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. (NIV)

2. This sets a context for the book of 1 Samuel.

3. Unfortunately, there was no spiritual King recognized (though He was very much present), but what is in view is that at the time there was no earthly monarchy.

II. The five men of Dan met the Levite priest. Judges 18:2-6

A. Judges 18:2-6, So the Danites sent five warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all their clans. They told them, "Go, explore the land." The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?" He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest." Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful." The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval." (NIV)

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1. Judges 18:1 seems to suggest these last five chapters are indicative of Israel’s introduction to the land rather than of their having lived there for 300 years already and after the time of Samson.

2. In Judges 1:34-35 the people of Dan did not take the inherited lot given them because of a lack of faith; in this chapter, we see the reason for their lack of faith: they accepted a confused theology.

a. Judges 1:34, 35, The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the house of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. (NIV)

3. If, as most assume, the events of these chapters are shortly after the death of Joshua (cf. Keil & Delitzsch, p. 434), it is strange that the words of the elders to Joshua (Joshua 24) were not received by others when they knew the Lord’s word and saw the Lord’s deeds.

a. Joshua 24:1-33, Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Joshua said to all

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the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. "'Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time. "'I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. "'Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not

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do it with your own sword and bow. So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.' "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God." Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you." But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied. "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts

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to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him." On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God." Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance. After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel. And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants. And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim. (NIV)

i. Really, it is not strange at all; it is simply unfortunate.

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ii. This is one of those events in Scripture that illustrate man’s plague: confusion of heart. 4. Five men of Dan spied out the land and received encouraging words from the hired Levite, who was not a priest after the order of Aaron.

a. So, they no more than got started before they were led astray by one not authorized to serve in the capacity of priest.

b. They were successful in taking the land, but to violate God’s word is to have the Lord against the violator.

5. The five men became 600 men and prepared to take the land. (Judges 18:7-13)

a. Judges 18:7-13, So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else. When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "How did you find things?" They answered, "Come on, let's attack them! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over. When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever." Then six hundred men from the clan of the Danites, armed for

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battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan to this day. From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house. (NIV)

b. After receiving encouraging words from the Levite, this report of the scouting party was brought back to the larger group. (Judges 18:7-8)

i. Judges 18:7, 8, So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else. When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "How did you find things?" (NIV)

c. The larger group of men was encouraged to go up and take the land because “God has given it into your hand”. (Judges 18:9-13)

i. Judges 18:9-13, They answered, "Come on, let's attack them! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over. When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever." Then six hundred men from the clan of the

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Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan to this day. From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house. (NIV)

d. Dan’s allotment was much further south than the events of chapter 18 indicate.

i. In Joshua 19:40-48, Dan’s allotment was on the western coast in the area known to be inhabited by the Philistines (see a Bible map).

*Joshua 19:40-48, The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, clan by clan. The territory of their inheritance included: Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron, Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, Me Jarkon and Rakkon, with the area facing Joppa. (But the Danites had difficulty taking possession of their territory, so they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it. They settled in Leshem and named it Dan after their forefather.) These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, clan by clan. (NIV)

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ii. However, according to our current chapter, it appears that with Dan’s not taking that which they were granted some went straight north near to what is now known as the Lebanon border. iii. “The spies traveled straight north until they arrived at the city of Laish, some one hundred miles from their original inheritance and farther north than any territory allotted to the tribes of Israel” (Wolf. p. 484).

III. Dan gave more money to the Levite from Judah, Judges 18:14-21.

A. Judges 18:14-21, Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, other household gods, a carved image and a cast idol? Now you know what to do." So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah's place and greeted him. The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance to the gate. The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance to the gate. When these men went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" They answered him, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man's household?" Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left. (NIV)

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1. The 600 men pilfer Micah’s home. (Judges 18:14-18) Keil & Delitzsch interpreted 18:14 as an opportunity that existed amongst the Danites, encouraging them to go to the Levite and, essentially, offer him a better price to serve the many rather than the few (p. 436). a. Judges 18:14, Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, other household gods, a carved image and a cast idol? Now you know what to do." (NIV)

2. They offered to the young Levite a better position than the one he currently had. (Judges 18:19-21)

a. Judges 18:19-21, They answered him, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man's household?" Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left. (NIV)

b. When one’s motivation to serve is coupled with ambition, it soon occurs that the ambition usurps whatever genuine motivation might have originally existed.

c. The young Levite was a hireling. John 10:1-13

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i. John 10:1-13, "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (NIV)

3. At least the following can be said of this Levite; . . .

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a. He was unauthorized to serve in the capacity in which he was serving.

b. The Levite was of the family of Gershom, son of Moses (Judges 18:30); he was not a priest in accordance with God’s law. (Exodus 28:1-3)

i. Judges 18:30, There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. (NIV)

ii. Exodus 28:1-3, "Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests. Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. (NIV)

c. God’s priest served the people in total, not a single family.

d. This unauthorized priest presumptuously spoke for God. (Judges 18:6)

i. Judges 18:6, The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval." (NIV)

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e. He served God with idols; a direct violation of God’s expressed will. (Exodus 20:1-5)

i. Exodus 20:1-5, And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, (NIV)

IV. Micah, having learned what had happened, took off after them. (Judges 18:22-26).

A. Judges 18:22-26, When they had gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?" He replied, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, 'What's the matter with you?'" The Danites answered, "Don't argue with us, or some hot- tempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives." So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home. (NIV)

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1. The men of Micah and the Danites faced one another in potential confrontation. (Judges 18:22-24)

a. Judges 18:22-24, When they had gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?" He replied, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, 'What's the matter with you?'" (NIV)

b. In Judges 18:14 the command was given, “…consider what you should do” (NKJV) and in Judges 18:17, they responded by taking what belonged to another.

i. Judges 18:14, 17, Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, other household gods, a carved image and a cast idol? Now you know what to do." The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance to the gate. (NIV)

c. To complicate the situation, the hired priest was a thief as well as a hireling. (Judges 18:20)

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i. Judges 18:20, Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. (NIV)

2. Micah was unable to overcome the threat the men of Dan posed to him and his men; thus, they turned back. (Judges 18:25-26).

a. Judges 18:25, 26, The Danites answered, "Don't argue with us, or some hot-tempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives." So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home. (NIV)

V. Dan settled in the land. Judges 18:27-31

A. Judges 18:27-31, Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. They named it Dan after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish. There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh. (NIV)

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1. Unsuspecting people are routed by the men of Dan, Judges 18:27-29 and Dan renamed the city Laish after the name of the tribe. (Judges 18:29)

a. Judges 18:27-29, Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. They named it Dan after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel— though the city used to be called Laish. (NIV)

B. Dan set up its own shrine, image of worship, and priest. (Judges 18:30) This lasted until the captivity.

1. Judges 18:30, There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. (NIV) 2. It was here, at the rending of the tribes from Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, that Jeroboam set up his idol worship site. (1 Kings 12:25ff)

a. 1 Kings 12:25-33, Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel. Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the LORD in

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Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam." After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there. Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings. (NIV) b. It is difficult to determine whether this refers to the Assyrian captivity of Tiglath-pileser (about 733-732 B.C.) or some local occasion, such as in 1 Samuel 4.

i. Samuel 4:1-22, And Samuel's word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of

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them on the battlefield. When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies." So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!" So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and

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went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry. Eli heard the outcry and asked, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man hurried over to Eli, who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes were set so that he could not see. He told Eli, "I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day." Eli asked, "What happened, my son?" The man who brought the news replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man and heavy. He had led Israel forty years. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"- because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. She

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said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." (NIV)

c. In any case, it is a time marker and the significance of it is in the fact the Lord did not protect them and they suffered violence.

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Bibliography

Herbert Wolf, Expositor’s Bible Commentary (volume 3, pages 375- 506)

K. Lason Younger, Jr., The NIV Application Commentary: Judges/Ruth

Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua – 2 Samuel (volume 2, pages 237-464)

John J. Davis & John C. Whitcomb, Israel: From Conquest to Exile: A Commentary of Joshua to 2 Kings (pages 93-152).

Josephus, Antiquities

John Kachelman, Studies in Judges

The Interpreter’s Bible, volume 2

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Questions

Judges 18:1-31

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. What effect did the lack of a king have on Israel? Would a king have solved Israel’s problem? Was the author of Judges advocating the anointing of a king?

2. Why had the Danites not yet come into possession of their land inheritance?

3. The sent from and to out and the . These represented all their .

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4. Geographically locate Zorah and Eshtaol.

5. “The entered the of and came to the of , where they the .”

6. How was it that the Danites recognized the voice of the young Levite?

7. What request did the Danites make of the young Levite?

8. What answer did the Levite return to the Danites? Did this answer come from God or the Levite? Did God answer the Levite’s prayer and supply the requested information?

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9. “So the men left and came to , where they saw that the were in , like the , and . Since their lacked , they were . Also they from the , and had no with anyone else.

10. Geographically locate Laish and the hill country of Ephraim.

11. The people of Laish were peaceful and prosperous. They were not bothering anybody. The spies urged the Danites to attack these unsuspecting people and claimed that God had given Laish to them. Did the Danites plan to do the right thing? Give reasons for your answer.

12. men from the of the , for , set out from and . On their way they set up camp near in . They continued on until they came to

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‘s in the of .

13. Geographically locate Kiriath Jearim in Judah and tell why the place just west of it became known as Mahaneh Dan (Dan’s camp).

14. “The Danites intimidated the house of Micah and stole the , the , the other and the .”

15. Use as many adjectives as you can to describe the Danites.

16. The Levite was offered a bigger job and was glad. What does this say about the Levite, his character and dedication to God’s work?

17. Micah went after the Danites to retrieve his gods and priest. The Danites asked Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?” What do you make of this question? Why didn’t Micah attack the Danites?

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18. “The Danites took what had made, and his , and went on to , against a and They them with the and their .”

19. Did this attack please God? Give reasons for your answer.

20. “ was rebuilt and named . There they set up the , and son of , the of , and his were for the of until the time of the of the land.”

21. Were descendants of Moses qualified to be priests? Why or why not? What was the name of Micah’s priest that went with the Danites?

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22. What captivity was referenced in verse 30?

23. The continued to use the had made, all the time the of was in .

24. What was the house of God referenced in verse 31? How long did the house of God stay in Shiloh? Geographically locate Shiloh.

25. The “Levite priest” certainly could be and was “bought.” Do you agree that everyone has his price? If so, what is your price?

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Answers

Questions

Judges 18:1-31

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. What effect did the lack of a king have on Israel? Would a king have solved Israel’s problem? Was the author of Judges advocating the anointing of a king? A king that was a strong, effective leader could have made a difference in Israel’s history. David had these attributes and became the closest to fulfilling God’s command to conquer the land. The author was not advocating for a king, just recording historical facts.

2. Why had the Danites not yet come into possession of their land inheritance? They had difficulty trying to drive out the Philistines. They went 100 miles farther north, subdued the inhabitants and settled there.

3. The Danites sent five warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out and explore the land. These men represented all their clans.

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4. Geographically locate Zorah and Eshtaol. Zorah and Eshtaol are located about 13 miles west of Jerusalem.

5. “The men entered the hill country of Ephriam and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.”

6. How was it that the Danites recognized the voice of the young Levite? We are not told. Possibly an accent?

7. What request did the Danites make of the young Levite? They wanted him to ask God whether their journey would be successful.

8. What answer did the Levite return to the Danites? Did this answer come from God or the Levite? Did God answer the Levite’s prayer and supply the requested information? He answered that their journey, “had the LORD’s approval.” The Levite gave them the answer they were looking for. It was not from God.

9. “So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. Since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also they lived a long way from the Sidonians, and had no relationship with anyone else.

10. Geographically locate Laish and the hill country of Ephraim. Laish was a Canaanite city in northern Palestine, east of Tyre and southeast of Sidon, north of Lake Huleh.

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Judges 3:1-5 explains the Canaanites and Sidonians were among the five nations left by God to test Israel to see if they would obey His commandments as they were originally told – to conquer the people and occupy the land.

12. Six hundred men from the clan of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. They continued on until they came to Micah‘s house in the hill country of Ephriam.

13. Geographically locate Kiriath Jearim in Judah and tell why the place just west of it became known as Mahaneh Dan (Dan’s camp). Kiriath Jearim was located nine miles north of Jerusalem where the borders of Dan, Benjamin and Judah meet. The Danites camped there on their march north to Laish.

14. “The Danites intimidated the house of Micah and stole the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol.”

15. Use as many adjectives as you can to describe the Danites. Bold, opportunistic, idol worshipers.

16. The Levite was offered a bigger job and was glad. What does this say about the Levite, his character and dedication to God’s work? He was an opportunist, not a true man of God. Note that the author reports, “He was glad when offered a better position of priest over a tribe instead of a priest of a family. He obviously saw nothing wrong with worshiping idols.

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Micah attack the Danites? The Danites intended to intimidate Micah and it worked. He was greatly outnumbered.

18. “The Danites took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city.”

19. Did this attack please God? Give reasons for your answer. They conquered the land from the Canaanites as God had commanded.

20. “Laish was rebuilt and named Dan. There they set up the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land.”

21. Were descendants of Moses qualified to be priests? Why or why not? What was the name of Micah’s priest that went with the Danites? (1) Yes (2) Only Aaron’s sons were authorized to be priests. The other Levites were consecrated to God and assisted the priests. In other words a priest was a Levite but a Levite was not necessarily a priest. (3) Jonathan, son of Gershom, the son of Moses.

22. What captivity was referenced in verse 30? Possibly the Assyrian captivity (722 BC.)

23. The Danites continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.

24. What was the house of God referenced in verse 31? How long did the house of God stay in Shiloh? Geographically locate Shiloh. (1) Joshua 4:19. The house of God was the Tabernacle in Shiloh placed there by Joshua where it remained until the time of Samuel (2) about

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400 years. (3) Shiloh was located in the territory of Ephriam 12 miles northeast of Bethel.

25. The “Levite priest” certainly could be and was “bought.” Do you agree that everyone has his price? If so, what is your price? Some people have the strength of character to resist the temptation to “sell their soul” for silver shekels, some don’t.

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