Judges 18
18:1In those days there was not a king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of Dan sought for itself an inheritance to dwell, for an inheritance did not fall in to it until that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel.
18:2And the sons of Dan sent out from their peoples five men from their part, men of sons of power, from Zorah and Esthaol, to survey the land, and to track it. And they said to them, Go, and search out the land! And they came unto mount Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and they rested there.
18:3In their being by the house of Micah, that they knew the voice of the young man, the Levite, and they turned aside there. And they said to him, Who brought you here? And what do you do here? And what is it here?
18:4And he said to them, Micah did so and so with me, and hired me, and I became to him for a priest.
18:5And they said to him, Ask indeed to God! that we will know if our way greatly prospers which we go by it.
18:6And the priest said to them, Go in peace before the lord! your way by which you go by it.
18:7And the five men went and came into Laish. And they saw the people in it dwelling in hope as the amalgamation of the Sidonians, being tranquil in hope, and not being able to speak a word in the land, for they are far from Sidon, and there was no word to them with Syria.
18:8And the five men came to their brethren in Zorah and in Esthaol. And their brethren said to them, Why do you sit down?
18:9And they said, Rise up, for we should ascend against them! for we saw the land, and behold, it is exceedingly good,. And you are silent? You should not be reluctant to go and to enter to inherit the land.
18:10When ever you should enter, you shall come to a people being secure, and the land of broad space, for God delivered it over into your hand. A place where there is not any deficiency there of a thing as much as is on the earth.
18:11And they departed from there, from the kin of Dan, from Zorah and from Esthaol -- six hundred men being girded with weapons for battle.
18:12And they ascended and camped in Kirjath-jearim in Judah. On account of this that place was called, Camp of Dan until this day. Behold, it is behind Kirjath-jearim.
18:13And they went from there unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
18:14And the five men going to survey the land of Laish responded. And they said to their brethren, Did you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a carved image, and a molten image? And now know what you shall do!
18:15And they turned aside there, and entered into the house of the young man -- the Levite, into the house of Micah, and they asked him for peace.
18:16And the six hundred men being girded with weapons for their warfare, being set up by the door of the gatehouse, were the ones from the sons of Dan.
18:17Then the five men going to survey the land ascended; and coming there, they took the carved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. And the priest was set up by the door of the gatehouse, and the six hundred men were girded with weapons for warfare.
18:18And when these entered into the house of Micah, and took the carved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, that the priest said to them, What do you do?
18:19And they said to him, Be silent, place your hand over your mouth, and come with us! and you will be to us for a father and for a priest. Is it not better for you to be a priest of the house of one man, or for you to be priest of a tribe and kin in Israel?
18:20And it was good to the heart of the priest. And he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the carved image, and the molten image, and entered into the midst of the people.
18:21And they turned and went forth, and put the children, and the property, and the load before them.
18:22And they were far from the house of Micah, and behold, Micah and the men in the houses, near the house of Micah cried out, and they overtook the sons of Dan.
18:23And they yelled to the sons of Dan. And the sons of Dan turned their faces, and they said to Micah, What is it to you that you cry out?
18:24And he said, The gods which I made you took, and the priest, and you departed. And what is there to me still? And what is this you say to me, Why is this that you cry out?
18:25And the sons of Dan said to him, Your voice should not be heard with us, lest at any time men in severe pain of soul should confront you, and you shall add your life, and the life of your household.
18:26And the sons of Dan went on their way. And Micah saw that they are too mighty for him, and he turned aside and returned to his house.
18:27And they took as much as Micah made, and the priest who was with him, and they went unto Laish, upon a people being tranquil, and being secure. And they struck them by the mouth of the broadsword, and the city they burned by fire.
18:28And there is no one rescuing, for it is far from Sidon, and communication is not to them with man; and it is in the valley which is of the house of Rehob. And they built up the city, and dwelt in it.
18:29And they called the name of the city Dan, according to the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. And the name to the city formerly was Laish.
18:30And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the carved image. And Jonathan, son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the displacement of the land.
18:31And they themselves stationed the carved image Micah made all the days, as many as the house of God was in Shiloh. And it came to pass in those days there was no king in Israel.