The Book of Judges, Chapter 18שפטים 18

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבַיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם שֵׁ֣בֶט הַדָּנִ֞י מְבַקֶּשׁ ל֤וֹ נַֽחֲלָה֙ לָשֶׁ֔בֶת כִּי֩ לֹֽא נָ֨פְלָה לּ֜וֹ עַד הַיּ֥וֹם הַה֛וּא בְּתוֹךְ שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּנַחֲלָֽה

In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danite was seeking for itself an inheritance to live in, for it had not fallen to it to that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel as an inheritance.

וַיִּשְׁלְח֣וּ בְנֵי דָ֣ן מִֽמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּ֡ם חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֣ים מִקְצוֹתָם֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים בְּנֵי חַ֜יִל מִצָּרְעָ֣ה וּמֵֽאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֗ל לְרַגֵּ֤ל אֶת הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ וּלְחָקְרָ֔הּ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לְכ֖וּ חִקְר֣וּ אֶת הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ הַר אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ עַד בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ שָֽׁם

And the sons of Dan sent from their clan five men from their extremities, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it, and they said to them, Go, explore the land. And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, as far as the house of Micah, and they lodged there.

הֵ֚מָּה עִם בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה וְהֵ֣מָּה הִכִּ֔ירוּ אֶת ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר הַלֵּוִ֑י וַיָּס֣וּרוּ שָׁ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ מִֽי הֱבִיאֲךָ֣ הֲלֹ֔ם וּמָֽה אַתָּ֥ה עֹשֶׂ֛ה בָּזֶ֖ה וּמַה לְּךָ֥ פֹֽה

They were at the house of Micah, and they recognized the voice of the young Levite, and they turned aside there and said to him, Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place, and what is there for you here?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כָּזֹ֣ה וְכָזֶ֔ה עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י מִיכָ֑ה וַיִּשְׂכְּרֵ֕נִי וָאֱהִי ל֖וֹ לְכֹהֵֽן

And he said to them, Thus and so Micah has done for me, and he has hired me, and I have become a priest to him.

וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ ל֖וֹ שְׁאַל נָ֣א בֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה הֲתַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֵּ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנַ֖חְנוּ הֹלְכִ֥ים עָלֶֽיהָ

And they said to him, Please inquire of God, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will succeed.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר לָהֶ֛ם הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לְכ֣וּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם נֹ֣כַח יְהוָ֔ה דַּרְכְּכֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּֽלְכוּ בָֽהּ

And the priest said to them, Go in peace; in front of YHWH is your way on which you go.

וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ לָ֑יְשָׁה וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶת הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ יוֹשֶֽׁבֶת לָ֠בֶטַח כְּמִשְׁפַּ֨ט צִדֹנִ֜ים שֹׁקֵ֣ט וּבֹטֵ֗חַ וְאֵין מַכְלִ֨ים דָּבָ֤ר בָּאָ֨רֶץ֙ יוֹרֵ֣שׁ עֶ֔צֶר וּרְחֹקִ֥ים הֵ֨מָּה֙ מִצִּ֣דֹנִ֔ים וְדָבָ֥ר אֵין לָהֶ֖ם עִם אָדָֽם

And the five men went and came to Laish, and they saw the people who were in it dwelling in security, according to the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure, and no one putting them to shame in anything in the land, possessing restraint, and they were far from the Sidonians, and they had no dealings with anyone.

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶל אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם צָרְעָ֖ה וְאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם מָ֥ה אַתֶּֽם

And they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, What is with you?

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ ק֚וּמָה וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֤י רָאִ֨ינוּ֙ אֶת הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהִנֵּ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד וְאַתֶּ֣ם מַחְשִׁ֔ים אַל תֵּעָ֣צְל֔וּ לָלֶ֥כֶת לָבֹ֖א לָרֶ֥שֶׁת אֶת הָאָֽרֶץ

And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And you are silent? Do not be sluggish to go, to enter to possess the land.

כְּבֹאֲכֶ֞ם תָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל עַ֣ם בֹּטֵ֗חַ וְהָאָ֨רֶץ֙ רַחֲבַ֣ת יָדַ֔יִם כִּֽי נְתָנָ֥הּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם מָקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין שָׁ֣ם מַחְס֔וֹר כָּל דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ

When you come, you will come to a people secure, and the land is broad of hands, for God has given it into your hand — a place where there is no lack of any thing that is in the earth.

וַיִּסְע֤וּ מִשָּׁם֙ מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַדָּנִ֔י מִצָּרְעָ֖ה וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹ֑ל שֵֽׁשׁ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֔ישׁ חָג֖וּר כְּלֵ֥י מִלְחָמָֽה

And they set out from there, from the clan of the Danite, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.

וַֽיַּעֲל֗וּ וַֽיַּחֲנ֛וּ בְּקִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִ֖ים בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה עַל כֵּ֡ן קָרְאוּ֩ לַמָּק֨וֹם הַה֜וּא מַחֲנֵה דָ֗ן עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה הִנֵּ֕ה אַחֲרֵ֖י קִרְיַ֥ת יְעָרִֽים

And they went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah; therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.

וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ מִשָּׁ֖ם הַר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד בֵּ֥ית מִיכָֽה

And they passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came as far as the house of Micah.

וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַהֹלְכִים֮ לְרַגֵּל֮ אֶת הָאָ֣רֶץ לַיִשׁ֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם הַיְדַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֠י יֵ֣שׁ בַּבָּתִּ֤ים הָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ אֵפ֣וֹד וּתְרָפִ֔ים וּפֶ֖סֶל וּמַסֵּכָ֑ה וְעַתָּ֖ה דְּע֥וּ מַֽה תַּעֲשֽׂוּ

And the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish answered and said to their brothers, Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod and teraphim and a carved image and a cast image? And now, know what you will do.

וַיָּס֣וּרוּ שָׁ֔מָּה וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל בֵּֽית הַנַּ֥עַר הַלֵּוִ֖י בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ ל֖וֹ לְשָׁלֽוֹם

And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

וְשֵׁשׁ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ חֲגוּרִים֙ כְּלֵ֣י מִלְחַמְתָּ֔ם נִצָּבִ֖ים פֶּ֣תַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִבְּנֵי דָֽן

And the six hundred men girded with their weapons of war were standing at the entrance of the gate, who were of the sons of Dan.

וַֽיַּעֲל֞וּ חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הַהֹלְכִים֮ לְרַגֵּ֣ל אֶת הָאָרֶץ֒ בָּ֣אוּ שָׁ֔מָּה לָקְח֗וּ אֶת הַפֶּ֨סֶל֙ וְאֶת הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד וְאֶת הַתְּרָפִ֖ים וְאֶת הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה וְהַכֹּהֵ֗ן נִצָּב֙ פֶּ֣תַח הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְשֵׁשׁ מֵא֣וֹת הָאִ֔ישׁ הֶחָג֖וּר כְּלֵ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָֽה

And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up, came there, took the carved image and the ephod and the teraphim and the cast image, while the priest was standing at the entrance of the gate, and the six hundred men girded with weapons of war.

וְאֵ֗לֶּה בָּ֚אוּ בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת פֶּ֣סֶל הָאֵפ֔וֹד וְאֶת הַתְּרָפִ֖ים וְאֶת הַמַּסֵּכָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן מָ֥ה אַתֶּ֖ם עֹשִֽׂים

And these came into the house of Micah and took the carved image of the ephod and the teraphim and the cast image, and the priest said to them, What are you doing?

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ ל֨וֹ הַחֲרֵ֜שׁ שִֽׂים יָדְךָ֤ עַל פִּ֨יךָ֙ וְלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֔נוּ וֶֽהְיֵה לָ֖נוּ לְאָ֣ב וּלְכֹהֵ֑ן הֲט֣וֹב הֱיוֹתְךָ֣ כֹהֵ֗ן לְבֵית֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד א֚וֹ הֱיוֹתְךָ֣ כֹהֵ֔ן לְשֵׁ֥בֶט וּלְמִשְׁפָּחָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And they said to him, Be silent; put your hand on your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a clan in Israel?

וַיִּיטַב֙ לֵ֣ב הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד וְאֶת הַתְּרָפִ֖ים וְאֶת הַפָּ֑סֶל וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָעָֽם

And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and the teraphim and the carved image and went in the midst of the people.

וַיִּפְנ֖וּ וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ אֶת הַטַּ֧ף וְאֶת הַמִּקְנֶ֛ה וְאֶת הַכְּבוּדָּ֖ה לִפְנֵיהֶֽם

And they turned and went, and they put the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them.

הֵ֥מָּה הִרְחִ֖יקוּ מִבֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֑ה וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּבָּתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עִם בֵּ֣ית מִיכָ֔ה נִֽזְעֲק֔וּ וַיַּדְבִּ֖יקוּ אֶת בְּנֵי דָֽן

They had gone far from the house of Micah, and the men who were in the houses that were with Micah's house were called out and overtook the sons of Dan.

וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ אֶל בְּנֵי דָ֔ן וַיַּסֵּ֖בּוּ פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְמִיכָ֔ה מַה לְּךָ֖ כִּ֥י נִזְעָֽקְתָּ

And they called to the sons of Dan, and they turned their faces and said to Micah, What is it to you, that you have been called out?

וַיֹּ֡אמֶר אֶת אֱלֹהַי֩ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂ֨יתִי לְקַחְתֶּ֧ם וְֽאֶת הַכֹּהֵ֛ן וַתֵּלְכ֖וּ וּמַה לִּ֣י ע֑וֹד וּמַה זֶּ֛ה תֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלַ֖י מַה לָּֽךְ

And he said, My gods that I made you have taken, and the priest, and you have gone; and what have I left? And what is this you say to me, What is it to you?

וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ בְּנֵי דָ֔ן אַל תַּשְׁמַ֥ע קוֹלְךָ֖ עִמָּ֑נוּ פֶּֽן יִפְגְּע֣וּ בָכֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁים֙ מָ֣רֵי נֶ֔פֶשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֥ה נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ בֵּיתֶֽךָ

And the sons of Dan said to him, Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest men bitter of soul fall upon you, and you gather up your life and the life of your house.

וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ בְנֵי דָ֖ן לְדַרְכָּ֑ם וַיַּ֣רְא מִיכָ֗ה כִּי חֲזָקִ֥ים הֵ֨מָּה֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וַיִּ֖פֶן וַיָּ֥שָׁב אֶל בֵּיתֽוֹ

And the sons of Dan went on their way, and Micah saw that they were stronger than he, and he turned and went back to his house.

וְהֵ֨מָּה לָקְח֜וּ אֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֣ה מִיכָ֗ה וְֽאֶת הַכֹּהֵן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָה לוֹ֒ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ עַל לַ֗יִשׁ עַל עַם֙ שֹׁקֵ֣ט וּבֹטֵ֔חַ וַיַּכּ֥וּ אוֹתָ֖ם לְפִי חָ֑רֶב וְאֶת הָעִ֖יר שָׂרְפ֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ

And they took what Micah had made and the priest who had been his, and they came upon Laish, upon a people quiet and secure, and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.

וְאֵ֨ין מַצִּ֜יל כִּ֧י רְֽחוֹקָה הִ֣יא מִצִּיד֗וֹן וְדָבָ֤ר אֵין לָהֶם֙ עִם אָדָ֔ם וְהִ֕יא בָּעֵ֖מֶק אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְבֵית רְח֑וֹב וַיִּבְנ֥וּ אֶת הָעִ֖יר וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ בָֽהּ

And there was no deliverer, for it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone; and it was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. And they built the city and lived in it.

וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ שֵׁם הָעִיר֙ דָּ֔ן בְּשֵׁם֙ דָּ֣ן אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יוּלַּ֖ד לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאוּלָ֛ם לַ֥יִשׁ שֵׁם הָעִ֖יר לָרִאשֹׁנָֽה

And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born to Israel; yet Laish was the name of the city at first.

וַיָּקִ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם בְּנֵי דָ֖ן אֶת הַפָּ֑סֶל וִ֠יהוֹנָתָן בֶּן גֵּרְשֹׁ֨ם בֶּן מְ ה֣וּא וּבָנָ֗יו הָי֤וּ כֹהֲנִים֙ לְשֵׁ֣בֶט הַדָּנִ֔י עַד י֖וֹם גְּל֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ

And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the carved image, and Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danite until the day of the exile of the land.

וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ לָהֶ֔ם אֶת פֶּ֥סֶל מִיכָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה כָּל יְמֵ֛י הֱי֥וֹת בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּשִׁלֹֽה

And they set up for themselves the carved image of Micah that he had made, all the days that the house of God was at Shiloh.