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; for to that day3117 all their inheritance5159 had not fallen5307 to them among8432 the tribes7626 of Israel.3478

2 And the children1121 of Dan1835 sent7971 of their family4940 five2568 men582 1121 from their coasts,7098 men582 1121 of valor,2428 from Zorah,6881 and from Eshtaol,847 to spy7270 out the land,776 and to search2713 it; and they said559 to them, Go,3212 search2713 the land:776 who when they came935 to mount2022 Ephraim,669 to the house1004 of Micah,4318 they lodged3885 there.8033

3 When they were by the house1004 of Micah,4318 they knew5234 the voice663 of the young5288 man the Levite:3881 and they turned5493 in thither,8033 and said559 to him, Who4310 brought935 you here?1988 and what4100 make6213 you in this6311 place? and what4100 have you here?6311

4 And he said559 to them, Thus2090 and thus2088 deals6213 Micah4318 with me, and has hired7936 me, and I am his priest.3548

5 And they said559 to him, Ask7592 counsel, we pray4994 you, of God,430 that we may know3045 whether our way1870 which834 we go1980 shall be prosperous.6743

6 And the priest3548 said559 to them, Go3212 in peace:7965 before5227 the LORD3068 is your way1870 wherein834 you go.3212

7 Then the five2568 men582 departed,3212 and came935 to Laish,3919 and saw7200 the people5971 that were therein,7130 how they dwelled3427 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 put3637 them to shame3637 in any thing;1697 and they were far7350 from the Zidonians,6722 and had no369 business1697 with any man.120

8 And they came935 to their brothers251 to Zorah6881 and Eshtaol:847 and their brothers251 said559 to them, What4100 say559 you?

9 And they said,559 Arise,6965 that we may go5927 up against5921 them: for we have seen7200 the land,776 and, behold,2009 it is very3966 good:2896 and are you still?2814 be not slothful6101 to go,3212 and to enter935 to possess3423 the land.776

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

11 And there went5265 from there8033 of the family4940 of the Danites,1839 out of Zorah6881 and out of Eshtaol,847 six8337 hundred3967 men376 appointed2296 with weapons3627 of war.4421

12 And they went5927 up, and pitched2583 in Kirjathjearim,7157 in Judah:3063 why5921 3651 they called7121 that place4725 Mahanehdan4265 to this2088 day:3117 behold,2009 it is behind310 Kirjathjearim.7157

13 And they passed5674 there8033 to mount2022 Ephraim,669 and came935 to the house1004 of Micah.4318

14 Then answered6030 the five2568 men582 that went1980 to spy7270 out the country776 of Laish,3919 and said559 to their brothers,251 Do you know3045 that there is in these428 houses1004 an ephod,646 and teraphim,8655 and a graven6459 image, and a molten4541 image? now6258 therefore consider3045 what4100 you have to do.6213

15 And they turned5493 thitherward,8033 and came935 to the house1004 of the young5288 man the Levite,3881 even to 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 children1121 of Dan,1835 stood5324 by the entering6607 of the gate.8179

17 And the five2568 men582 that went1980 to spy7270 out the land776 went5927 up, and came935 in thither,8033 and took3947 the graven6459 image, and the ephod,646 and the teraphim,8655 and the molten4541 image: 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 the carved6459 image, the ephod,646 and the teraphim,8655 and the molten4541 image. Then said559 the priest3548 to them, What4100 do6213 you?

19 And they said559 to him, Hold2790 your peace,2790 lay7760 your hand3027 on your mouth,6310 and go3212 with us, and be to us a father1 and a priest:3548 is it better2896 for you to be a priest3548 to the house1004 of one259 man,376 or176 that you be a priest3548 to a tribe7626 and a family4940 in Israel?3478

20 And the priest's3548 heart3820 was glad,3190 and he took3947 the ephod,646 and the teraphim,8655 and the graven6459 image, and went935 in the middle7130 of the people.5971

21 So they turned6437 and departed,3212 and put7760 the little2945 ones and the cattle4735 and the carriage3520 before6440 them.

22 And when they were a good7368 way from the house1004 of Micah,4318 the men582 that were in the houses1004 near5973 to Micah's4318 house1004 were gathered2199 together, and overtook1692 the children1121 of Dan.1835

23 And they cried7121 to the children1121 of Dan.1835 And they turned5437 their faces,6440 and said559 to Micah,4318 What4100 ails you, that you come2199 with such a company?2199

24 And he said,559 You have taken3947 away my gods430 which834 I made,6213 and the priest,3548 and you are gone3212 away: and what4100 have I more?5750 and what4100 is this2088 that you say559 to me, What4100 ails you?

25 And the children1121 of Dan1835 said559 to him, Let not your voice6963 be heard8085 among us, lest6435 angry4751 5315 fellows582 run6293 on you, and you lose622 your life,5315 with the lives5315 of your household.1004

26 And the children1121 of Dan1835 went3212 their way:1870 and when Micah4318 saw7200 that they were too strong2389 for him, he turned6437 and went7725 back7725 to his house.1004

27 And they took3947 the things1697 which834 Micah4318 had made,6213 and the priest3548 which834 he had,1961 and came935 to Laish,3919 to 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 it was far7350 from Zidon,6721 and they had no369 business1697 with any man;120 and it was in the valley6010 that lies by Bethrehob.1050 And they built1129 a city,5892 and dwelled3427 therein.

29 And they called7121 the name8034 of the city5892 Dan,1835 after the name8034 of Dan1835 their father,1 who834 was born3205 to Israel:3478 however,199 the name8034 of the city5892 was Laish3919 at the first.7223

30 And the children1121 of Dan1835 set6965 up the graven6459 image: and Jonathan,3129 the son1121 of Gershom,1648 the son1121 of Manasseh,4519 he and his sons1121 were priests3548 to the tribe7626 of Dan1835 until5704 the day3117 of the captivity1546 of the land.776

31 And they set7760 them up Micah's4318 graven6459 image, which834 he made,6213 all3605 the time that the house1004 of God430 was in Shiloh.7887