Judges 18
Overview
18:1 The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance;
18:3 At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged on their way;
18:7 They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope;
18:11 Six hundred men are sent to surprise it;
18:14 In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things;
18:27 They win Laish, and call it Dan;
18:30 They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood. Verse 1 no kingThe word mailech, which generally means a king, is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler, governor, or judge - see note on Genesis 36:31, and see note on Deuteronomy 33:5
and it is probable it should be so understood here, and in the parallel passages. Judges 17:6, 19:1, 21:25 the tribe Joshua 19:40-48 for unto Judges 1:34 Reciprocal Genesis 49:16 - General; Joshua 19:47 - the coast; Judges 18:28 - far from; Mark 14:26 - hymn Verse 2 menHeb. sonsZorah Judges 18:8, 18:11, 13:2, 13:25, 16:31; Genesis 42:9; Joshua 19:41 to spy Numbers 13:17; Joshua 2:1; Proverbs 20:18; Luke 14:31 mount Judges 17:1, 19:1, 19:18; Joshua 17:15-18 Reciprocal Genesis 49:16 - General; Judges 1:23 - sent; 18:13 - mount Ephraim; 18:17 - five men; 1 Chronicles 19:3 - to search Verse 3 they knewThey knew by his dialect or mode of pronunciation, that he was not an Ephraimite (see the parallel texts). Judges 12:6; Genesis 27:22; Matthew 26:73 and what hast Isaiah 22:16 Reciprocal Judges 18:13 - mount Ephraim; 18:14 - in these; Isaiah 52:5 - what Verse 4 hired me Judges 17:10; Proverbs 28:21; Isaiah 56:11; Ezekiel 13:19; Hosea 4:8, 4:9; Malachi 1:10; John 10:12, 10:13; Acts 8:18-21, 20:33; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:11; 2 Peter 2:3, 2:14, 2:15 Reciprocal Judges 18:14 - in these; 2 Samuel 20:21 - his head Verse 5 Ask counsel 1 Kings 22:5; 2 Kings 16:15; Isaiah 30:1; Ezekiel 21:21; Hosea 4:12; Acts 8:10 of God Judges 18:14, 17:5, 17:13 Reciprocal Genesis 24:14 - thereby; Judges 17:3 - I had wholly Verse 6 Go in peace 1 Kings 22:6, 22:12, 22:15; Jeremiah 23:21, 23:22, 23:32 before Deuteronomy 11:12; Psalm 33:18; 1 Thessalonians 3:11 the LordAs the Levite uses the word Jehovah, and as the Danites succeeded according to the oracle delivered by him, some learned men are of opinion, that the worship established by Micah was not of an idolatrous kind.Reciprocal 1 Samuel 1:17 - Go; Acts 16:36 - and go Verse 7 Laish Joshua 19:47, called Leshemhow they Judges 18:27, 18:28; Revelation 18:7 magistrateHeb. possessor, or, heir of restraint, 1 Samuel 3:13; 1 Kings 1:6; Romans 13:3; 1 Peter 2:14 and had noIn the most correct copies of the LXX this clause stands thus; και λογος ουκ ην αυτοις μετα Συριας; "and they had no transactions with Syria;" evidently reading instead of אדם [H120], adam, man, ארם [H758], aram, Syria; words so nearly similar that the only difference between them is in the ר, raish, and ד, daleth, which in both manuscripts and printed books is sometimes indiscernible. Laish was situated on the frontiers of Syria.Reciprocal Judges 3:3 - Sidonians; 18:10 - secure; 21:25 - right; 1 Kings 16:31 - the Zidonians; 1 Chronicles 4:40 - the land; Isaiah 10:30 - Laish; 47:8 - given; Jeremiah 49:31 - that; Ezekiel 30:9 - careless; 38:11 - go to; 39:6 - carelessly; Amos 6:1 - to them Verse 8 Zorah and Eshtaol Judges 18:2, 18:11, 13:2, 16:31 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 19:3 - to search Verse 9 Arise Numbers 13:30, 14:7-9; Joshua 2:23, 2:24 are ye still 1 Kings 22:23 be not Joshua 18:3; 1 Samuel 4:9; 2 Samuel 10:12; John 6:27; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1; 2 Peter 1:10, 1:11 Reciprocal 2 Samuel 19:10 - speak ye not a word; 1 Chronicles 22:16 - Arise Verse 10 secure Judges 18:7, 18:27 God hath Deuteronomy 2:29, 4:1; Joshua 6:16 where there Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 8:7-9, 11:11, 11:12; Ezekiel 20:6; 1 Timothy 6:17 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 22:16 - Arise; Ecclesiastes 6:2 - so Verse 11 appointedHeb. girded, Judges 18:11 Reciprocal 13:25 - between; 18:2 - Zorah; 18:8 - Zorah and Eshtaol; 18:16 - six hundred Verse 12 KirjathjearimA city of Judah, on the confines of Benjamin; distant nine miles from Alia or Jerusalem, in going towards Diospolis or Lydda, according to Eusebius. Joshua 15:60; 1 Samuel 7:1; 1 Chronicles 13:5, 13:6; 2 Chronicles 1:4 Mahanehdan Judges 13:25 *marg.Reciprocal Joshua 15:9 - Kirjathjearim; 1 Samuel 6:21 - Kirjathjearim; Nehemiah 7:29 - Kirjathjearim Verse 13 mount Ephraim Judges 18:2, 18:3, 17:1, 19:1; Joshua 24:30, 24:33
Verse 14 Then 1 Samuel 14:28 in these Judges 18:3, 18:4, 17:5 now therefore Proverbs 19:27; Isaiah 8:19, 8:20 Reciprocal Genesis 31:19 - images; Joshua 2:1 - to spy secretly; Judges 8:27 - an ephod; 18:5 - of God; 18:17 - five men; 1 Samuel 19:13 - an image; Job 3:2 - spake; Ezekiel 21:21 - images; Zechariah 10:2 - the idols Verse 15 saluted himHeb. asked him of peace, Genesis 37:14, 43:27; 1 Samuel 17:22 *marg. 2 Kings 4:26; Matthew 10:12, 10:13; Luke 10:4-6; John 14:27 Reciprocal 1 Samuel 10:4 - salute thee; Jeremiah 15:5 - how thou doest Verse 16 six hundred Judges 18:11
Verse 17 five men Judges 18:2, 18:14 the graven 6:31, 17:4, 17:5; Exodus 32:20; 1 Samuel 4:11, 6:2-9; 2 Kings 19:18, 19:19; Isaiah 46:1, 46:2, 46:7 Reciprocal Joshua 2:1 - to spy secretly; Judges 8:27 - an ephod; 1 Samuel 19:13 - an image; 2 Kings 23:24 - images; Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith; Hosea 3:4 - without teraphim Verse 18 Reciprocal 2 Kings 23:24 - images; Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith; 46:2 - but; Ezekiel 21:21 - images Verse 19 lay thineThis was the token of silence. These men were evidently very ignorant; and absurdly concluded that they should, by taking Micah's gods, secure the presence and favour of the God of Israel, in their expedition and settlement. They perhaps supposed the piety of their motives, and the goodness of their end, would justify the means. But it was a base robbery of Micah, aggravated by the Levite's ingratitude, and their menaces. Job 21:5, 29:9, 40:4, 40:5; Proverbs 30:32; Micah 7:16 a father Judges 17:10; 2 Kings 6:21, 8:8, 8:9, 13:14; Matthew 23:9 Reciprocal 26:15 - What; 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love Verse 20 heart Judges 17:10; Proverbs 30:15; Isaiah 56:11; Ezekiel 13:19; Hosea 4:3; Acts 20:33; Philippians 3:19; 2 Peter 2:3, 2:15, 2:16 wentHe was glad of his preferment among the Danites; and went into the crowd, that he might not be discovered by Micah or his family.Reciprocal Judges 16:25 - their hearts; Ezekiel 21:21 - images; Matthew 26:15 - What; 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love Verse 21 and putThese men were so confident of success, that they removed their whole families, household goods, cattle, and all.the carriageKevoodah, from kavad, to be heavy, denotes the luggage or baggage. Judges 18:21 Reciprocal Joshua 21:31 - Rehob Verse 22 Reciprocal Genesis 49:17 - shall be Verse 23 What aileth Genesis 21:17; 1 Samuel 11:5; 2 Samuel 14:5; 2 Kings 6:28; Psalm 114:5; Isaiah 22:1 comestHeb. art gathered togetherReciprocal Matthew 19:22 - he went; Luke 18:23 - he was very sorrowful; Revelation 18:15 - shall Verse 24 what have Judges 17:13; Psalm 115:8; Isaiah 44:18-20; Jeremiah 50:38, 51:17; Ezekiel 23:5; Habakkuk 2:18, 2:19; Acts 19:26; Revelation 17:2 Reciprocal Genesis 31:30 - my gods; 40:7 - Wherefore; Judges 17:5 - an house of gods; Isaiah 41:7 - goldsmith; 44:13 - that it may; 46:2 - but; Ezekiel 21:21 - images; Daniel 11:8 - their gods; Hosea 10:5 - for the people; Matthew 19:22 - he went; Luke 18:23 - he was very sorrowful; Revelation 18:15 - shall Verse 25 angryHeb. bitter of soul, 1 Samuel 30:6; 2 Samuel 17:8; Job 3:5, 27:2 *marg.Reciprocal 1 Samuel 2:16 - I will take; 22:2 - discontented Verse 26 Reciprocal Ezekiel 48:1 - Dan Verse 27 Laish Judges 18:7, 18:10 they smote Deuteronomy 33:22; Joshua 19:47 burnt 11:11 Reciprocal Judges 8:11 - secure; Isaiah 47:8 - given; Jeremiah 49:31 - that; Ezekiel 38:11 - go to; 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - Peace Verse 28 And there 2 Samuel 14:6 *marg. Psalm 7:2, 50:22; Daniel 3:15-17 far fromProbably the people of Laish were originally a colony of the Zidonians; who being an opulent people, and in possession of a strong city, lived in a state of security, not being afraid of their neighbours. In this the Leshemites imitated them, though they appear not to have had the same reason for their confidence; and though they might naturally expect help from their countrymen, yet as they lived at a considerable distance from Sidon, the Danites saw they could strike the blow before the news of the invasion could reach that city. Judges 18:1, 18:7; Joshua 11:8; Isaiah 23:4, 23:12 Bethrehob Numbers 13:21, Rehob, 2 Samuel 10:6 Reciprocal 24:6 - Zidon; 2 Chronicles 16:4 - Dan; Jeremiah 49:31 - which dwell; 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - Peace Verse 29 Dan Judges 20:1; Genesis 14:14; Joshua 19:47; 2 Samuel 17:11; 1 Kings 12:29, 12:30, 15:20 who was Genesis 30:6, 32:28
Laish, or Dan, was situated at the northern extremity of the land of Canaan, in a beautiful and fertile plain, at the foot of mount Lebanon, on the springs of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, four miles from Cesarea Philippi, or Paneas, now Banias - with which some have confounded it
towards Tyre. Burckhardt says, that the source of the river El Dhan, or Jordan, is at an hour's distance from Banias, which agrees with Eusebius.Reciprocal Deuteronomy 34:1 - Dan; 2 Samuel 24:6 - land of Tahtimhodshi; 2 Chronicles 16:4 - Dan; Isaiah 10:30 - Laish; Jeremiah 4:15 - a voice; 8:16 - was heard; Ezekiel 27:19 - Dan; 1 Timothy 6:10 - the love Verse 30 set up Exodus 20:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 17:2-7, 27:15, 31:16, 31:29; Joshua 19:40-48; Psalm 78:58-61
God had graciously performed his promise, in putting these Danites in possession of that which fell to their lot, obliging them thereby to be faithful to him who had been so to them; they inherited the labour of the people, that they might observe his statues. 105:44, 105:45. But the first thing they do after they are settled is to break his laws, by setting up the graven image, attributing their success to that idol, which, if God had not been infinitely patient, would have been their ruin. Thus a prosperous idolater goes on to offend, imputing this his power unto his God. Instead of Manasseh, some would read Moses; as it is found in some manuscripts, in the Vulgate and in the concessions of the most intelligent Jews. But Bp. Patrick takes this to be an idle conceit of the Rabbins, and supposes this Jonathan to be of some other family of the Levites. Yet Kimchi acknowledges, that the Jews, deeply concerned for the honour of their lawgiver, to whom they thought it would be a great dishonour to have a grandson who was an idolater, suspended the letter, נ, noon, over the word משׁ [H4872], [H4873], Moses, thus מנשׁה [H4519], as it is found in the Hebrew Bibles; which, by means of the points, they have changed into Manasseh.until Judges 13:1; 1 Samuel 4:2, 4:3, 4:10, 4:11; Psalm 78:60-62 the landHoubigant contends, that, instead of haaretz, "the land," we should read haaron, "the ark;" for the, wav, and, noon final, might easily be mistaken for, tzadday final; which is the only difference between the two words. This conjecture is the more likely, as the next verse tells us, that Micah's graven image continued at Dan "all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh;" which was till the ark was taken by the Philistines.Reciprocal Judges 17:12 - his priest; Psalm 78:61 - his strength Verse 31 all the time Judges 19:18, 21:21; Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 1:3, 4:4; Jeremiah 7:12 Reciprocal Genesis 31:19 - images; Judges 20:18 - house of; Acts 7:45 - Which