1 In those1992 days3117 there was no369 king4428 in Israel:3478 and in those1992 days3117 the tribe7626 of the Danites1839 sought1245 them an inheritance5159 to dwell3427 in; for3588 unto5704 that1931 day3117 all their inheritance5159 had not3808 fallen5307 unto them among8432 the tribes7626 of Israel.3478

2 And the children1121 of Dan1835 sent7971 of their family4480 4940 five2568 men376 from their coasts,4480 7098 men376 of valor,2428 from Zorah,4480 6881 and from Eshtaol,4480 847 to spy out7270 853 the land,776 and to search2713 it; and they said559 unto413 them, Go,1980 search2713 853 the land:776 who when they came935 to mount2022 Ephraim,669 to5704 the house1004 of Micah,4318 they lodged3885 there.8033

3 When they1992 were by5973 the house1004 of Micah,4318 they1992 knew5234 853 the voice6963 of the young man5288 the Levite:3881 and they turned in5493 thither,8033 and said559 unto him, Who4310 brought935 thee hither?1988 and what4100 makest6213 thou859 in this2088 place? and what4100 hast thou here?6311

4 And he said559 unto413 them, Thus2090 and thus2090 dealeth6213 Micah4318 with me, and hath hired7936 me, and I am1961 his priest.3548

5 And they said559 unto him, Ask counsel,7592 we pray thee,4994 of God,430 that we may know3045 whether our way1870 which834 we587 go1980 shall be prosperous.6743

6 And the priest3548 said559 unto them, Go1980 in peace:7965 before5227 the LORD3068 is your way1870 wherein834 ye go.1980

7 Then the five2568 men376 departed,1980 and came935 to Laish,3919 and saw7200 853 the people5971 that834 were therein,7130 how they dwelt3427 careless,983 after the manner4941 of the Zidonians,6722 quiet8252 and secure;982 and there was no369 magistrate3423 6114 in the land,776 that might put them to shame3637 in any thing;1697 and they1992 were far7350 from the Zidonians,4480 6722 and had no369 business1697 with5973 any man.120

8 And they came935 unto413 their brethren251 to Zorah6881 and Eshtaol:847 and their brethren251 said559 unto them, What4100 say ye?859

9 And they said,559 Arise,6965 that we may go up5927 against5921 them: for3588 we have seen7200 853 the land,776 and, behold,2009 it is very3966 good:2896 and are ye859 still?2814 be not slothful6101 408 to go,1980 and to enter935 to possess3423 853 the land.776

10 When ye go,935 ye shall come935 unto413 a people5971 secure,982 and to a large7342 land:776 for3588 God430 hath given5414 it into your hands;3027 a place4725 where834 there is no369 want4270 of any3605 thing1697 that834 is in the earth.776

11 And there went5265 from thence4480 8033 of the family4480 4940 of the Danites,1839 out of Zorah4480 6881 and out of Eshtaol,4480 847 six8337 hundred3967 men376 appointed2296 with weapons3627 of war.4421

12 And they went up,5927 and pitched2583 in Kirjath-jearim,7157 in Judah:3063 wherefore5921 3651 they called7121 that1931 place4725 Mahaneh-dan4265 unto5704 this2088 day:3117 behold,2009 it is behind310 Kirjath-jearim.7157

13 And they passed5674 thence4480 8033 unto mount2022 Ephraim,669 and came935 unto5704 the house1004 of Micah.4318

14 Then answered6030 the five2568 men376 that went1980 to spy out7270 853 the country776 of Laish,3919 and said559 unto413 their brethren,251 Do ye know3045 that3588 there is3426 in these428 houses1004 an ephod,646 and teraphim,8655 and a graven image,6459 and a molten image?4541 now6258 therefore consider3045 what4100 ye have to do.6213

15 And they turned5493 thitherward,8033 and came935 to413 the house1004 of the young man5288 the Levite,3881 even unto the house1004 of Micah,4318 and saluted7592 7965 him.

16 And the six8337 hundred3967 men376 appointed2296 with their weapons3627 of war,4421 which834 were of the children4480 1121 of Dan,1835 stood5324 by the entering6607 of the gate.8179

17 And the five2568 men376 that went5927 to spy out7270 853 the land776 went up,5927 and came in935 thither,8033 and took3947 853 the graven image,6459 and the ephod,646 and the teraphim,8655 and the molten image:4541 and the priest3548 stood5324 in the entering6607 of the gate8179 with the six8337 hundred3967 men376 that were appointed2296 with weapons3627 of war.4421

18 And these428 went935 into Micah's4318 house,1004 and fetched3947 853 the carved image,6459 the ephod,646 and the teraphim,8655 and the molten image.4541 Then said559 the priest3548 unto413 them, What4100 do6213 ye?859

19 And they said559 unto him, Hold thy peace,2790 lay7760 thine hand3027 upon5921 thy mouth,6310 and go1980 with5973 us, and be1961 to us a father1 and a priest:3548 is it better2896 for thee to be1961 a priest3548 unto the house1004 of one259 man,376 or176 that thou be1961 a priest3548 unto a tribe7626 and a family4940 in Israel?3478

20 And the priest's3548 heart3820 was glad,3190 and he took3947 853 the ephod,646 and the teraphim,8655 and the graven image,6459 and went935 in the midst7130 of the people.5971

21 So they turned6437 and departed,1980 and put7760 853 the little ones2945 and the cattle4735 and the carriage3520 before6440 them.

22 And when they1992 were a good way7368 from the house4480 1004 of Micah,4318 the men376 that834 were in the houses1004 near5973 to Micah's4318 house1004 were gathered together,2199 and overtook1692 853 the children1121 of Dan.1835

23 And they cried7121 unto413 the children1121 of Dan.1835 And they turned5437 their faces,6440 and said559 unto Micah,4318 What4100 aileth thee, that3588 thou comest with such a company?2199

24 And he said,559 Ye have taken away3947 853 my gods430 which834 I made,6213 and the priest,3548 and ye are gone away:1980 and what4100 have I more?5750 and what4100 is this2088 that ye say559 unto413 me, What4100 aileth thee?

25 And the children1121 of Dan1835 said559 unto413 him, Let not408 thy voice6963 be heard8085 among5973 us, lest6435 angry4751 5315 fellows376 run6293 upon thee, and thou lose622 thy life,5315 with the lives5315 of thy household.1004

26 And the children1121 of Dan1835 went1980 their way:1870 and when Micah4318 saw7200 that3588 they1992 were too strong2389 for4480 him, he turned6437 and went back7725 unto413 his house.1004

27 And they1992 took3947 853 the things which834 Micah4318 had made,6213 and the priest3548 which834 he had,1961 and came935 unto5921 Laish,3919 unto5921 a people5971 that were at quiet8252 and secure:982 and they smote5221 them with the edge6310 of the sword,2719 and burnt8313 the city5892 with fire.784

28 And there was no369 deliverer,5337 because3588 it1931 was far7350 from Zidon,4480 6721 and they had no369 business1697 with5973 any man;120 and it1931 was in the valley6010 that834 lieth by Beth-rehob.1050 And they built1129 853 a city,5892 and dwelt3427 therein.

29 And they called7121 the name8034 of the city5892 Dan,1835 after the name8034 of Dan1835 their father,1 who834 was born3205 unto Israel:3478 howbeit199 the name8034 of the city5892 was Laish3919 at the first.7223

30 And the children1121 of Dan1835 set up6965 853 the graven image:6459 and Jonathan,3083 the son1121 of Gershom,1648 the son1121 of Manasseh,4519 he1931 and his sons1121 were1961 priests3548 to the tribe7626 of Dan1839 until5704 the day3117 of the captivity1540 of the land.776

31 And they set them up7760 853 Micah's4318 graven image,6459 which834 he made,6213 all3605 the time3117 that the house1004 of God430 was1961 in Shiloh.7887