Judges 18

Jud 18:1-26.

THE

DANITES

SEEK

OUT AN

INHERITANCE.

1-6. In those days . . . the Danites sought them an inheritance to

dwell in--The Danites had a territory assigned them as well as the

other tribes. But either through indolence, or a lack of energy, they

did not acquire the full possession of their allotment, but suffered a

considerable portion of it to be wrested out of their hands by the

encroachments of their powerful neighbors, the Philistines. In

consequence, being straitened for room, a considerable number resolved

on trying to effect a new and additional settlement in a remote part of

the land. A small deputation, being despatched to reconnoitre the

country, arrived on their progress northward at the residence of Micah.

Recognizing his priest as one of their former acquaintances, or perhaps

ascertaining the result of their present expedition. His answer, though

apparently promising, was delusive, and really as ambiguous as those of

the heathen oracles. This application brings out still more clearly

and fully than the schism of Micah the woeful degeneracy of the times.

The Danites expressed no emotions either of surprise or of indignation

at a Levite daring to assume the priestly functions, and at the

existence of a rival establishment to that of Shiloh. They were ready

to seek, through means of the teraphim, the information that could only

be lawfully applied for through the high priest's Urim. Being thus

equally erroneous in their views and habits as Micah, they show the low

state of religion, and how much superstition prevailed in all parts of

the land.

7-10. the five men departed, and came to Laish--or, "Leshem"

(Jos 19:47),

supposed to have been peopled by a colony of Zidonians. The place was

very secluded--the soil rich in the abundance and variety of its

produce, and the inhabitants, following the peaceful pursuits of

agriculture, lived in their fertile and sequestered valley, according

to the Zidonian style of ease and security, happy among themselves, and

maintaining little or no communication with the rest of the world. The

discovery of this northern paradise seemed, to the delight of the

Danite spies, an accomplishment of the priest's prediction. They

hastened back to inform their brethren in the south both of the value

of their prize, and how easily it could be made their prey.

11-21. there went from thence of the family of the Danites . . . six

hundred men--This was the collective number of the men who were

equipped with arms to carry out this expeditionary enterprise, without

including the families and furniture of the emigrants

(Jud 18:21).

Their journey led them through the territory of Judah, and their first

halting place was "behind," that is, on the west of Kirjath-jearim, on

a spot called afterwards "the camp of Dan." Prosecuting the northern

route, they skirted the base of the Ephraimite hills. On approaching

the neighborhood of Micah's residence, the spies having given

information that a private sanctuary was kept there, the priest of

which had rendered them important service when on their exploring

expedition, it was unanimously agreed that both he and the furniture of

the establishment would be a valuable acquisition to their proposed

settlement. A plan of spoliation was immediately formed. While the

armed men stood sentinels at the gates, the five spies broke into the

chapel, pillaged the images and vestments, and succeeded in bribing the

priest also by a tempting offer to transfer his services to their new

colony. Taking charge of the ephod, the teraphim, and the graven image,

he "went in the midst of the people"--a central position assigned him

in the march, perhaps for his personal security; but more probably in

imitation of the place appointed for the priests and the ark, in the

middle of the congregated tribes, on the marches through the

wilderness. This theft presents a curious medley of low morality and

strong religious feeling. The Danites exemplified a deep-seated

principle of our nature--that men have religious affections, which must

have an object on which these may be exercised, while they are often

not very discriminating in the choice of the objects. In proportion to

the slender influence religion wields over the heart, the greater is

the importance attached to external rites; and in the exact observance

of these, the conscience is fully satisfied, and seldom or never

molested by reflections on the breach of minor morals.

22-26. the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were

gathered together--The robbers of the chapel being soon detected, a

hot pursuit was forthwith commenced by Micah, at the head of a

considerable body of followers. The readiness with which they joined in

the attempt to recover the stolen articles affords a presumption that

the advantages of the chapel had been open to all in the neighborhood;

and the importance which Micah, like Laban, attached to his teraphim,

is seen by the urgency with which he pursued the thieves, and the risk

of his life in attempting to procure their restoration.

Finding his party, however, not a match for the Danites, he

thought it prudent to desist, well knowing the rule which was then

prevalent in the land, that

"They should take who had the power,

And they should keep who could."

Jud 18:27-29.

THEY

WIN

LAISH.

27. they . . . came unto Laish . . . smote them--the inhabitants.

and burnt the city--"We are revolted by this inroad and massacre of a

quiet and secure people. Nevertheless, if the original grant of Canaan

to the Israelites gave them the warrant of a divine commission and

command for this enterprise, that sanctifies all and legalizes all"

[CHALMERS].

This place seems to have been a dependency of Zidon, the

distance of which, however, rendered it impossible to obtain aid thence

in the sudden emergency.

28, 29. they built a city, and . . . call the name of that city Dan--It

was in the northern extremity of the land, and hence the origin of the

phrase, "from Dan to Beer-sheba."

Jud 18:30, 31.

THEY

SET

UP

IDOLATRY.

30, 31. the children of Dan set up the graven image--Their distance

secluded them from the rest of the Israelites, and doubtless this,

which was their apology for not going to Shiloh, was the cause of

perpetuating idolatry among them for many generations.