Judges 18:11-20
11 Then from the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out.
12 They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
13 And they passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
14 Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish said to their kinsmen, “Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod and household idols, and a carved image and a cast metal image? Now then, consider what you should do.”
15 So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing.
16 Meanwhile, the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, were positioned at the entrance of the gate.
17 Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there; they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
18 When these men entered Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, household idols, and the cast metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 And they said to him, “Be silent, put your hand over your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”
20 The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and went among the people.
Danite Migration
To Laish
The time of the judges is an anomalous period. Within the Israelites, occurred a Canaanization of faith. The Israelites didn’t completely forsake the God of Israel, but they worshipped the gods of the Canaanites and fell into syncretism. Perhaps the most alarming thing for us is not the denial of faith, but the faith diluted with pagan beliefs. The tribe of Dan sets out towards the northern city of Laish. As the spies’ report suggested, Laish was an easily conquerable city. Moreover, being an isolated city, there was no worry of reinforcements coming from nearby regions. Even today, the southern foothills of Mount Hermon are an area with abundant water and fertile land for cultivation. Six hundred armed men are mentioned. They likely took the lead in the tribal migration. Later, it becomes evident that this migration included families and livestock as well. From this point on, the tribe of Dan is counted as one of the ten northern tribes.
Hired priest
The five spies reported to their peers about the ephod, teraphim, carved images, and cast images in Micah’s house, and they came there to steal them together. (1) Threatening by force, they stole the ephod, teraphim, carved images, and cast images. (2) They persuaded the priest and hired him, asking, “What is better for you, to stay a priest of the household of Micah or to become a priest for the whole tribe of Dan?” (3) This priest betrayed his master, stole the idols, and made the choice that he deemed most advantageous for himself. Everything is in chaos. It’s foolish for anyone to believe that idols made by human hands can protect them. Moreover, the fact that they could be stolen indicates their powerlessness. In no way such powerless idols can protect people. This priest, after all, is nothing more than a hired priest. He is a betrayer and a thief. Our High Priest, Lord Jesus, is the complete opposite. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Let us place our trust only in our Shepherd, Lord Jesus.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, I give thanks to you, as I have Jesus as my true shepherd and that You have given me abundant life. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.