Judges 18:14-20 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:19

Lay thine hand upon thy mouth - This was the token of silence. The god of silence, Harpocrates, is represented on ancient statues with his finger pressed on his lips. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:20

Went to the midst of the people - He was glad to be employed by the Danites; and went into the crowd, that he might not be discovered by Micah or his family. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 18:14

In these houses - This agrees with what we saw at Judges 18:2-3 that the “house of God” and Jonathan’s house were detached from Micah’s. There were other houses besides Judges 18:22. The whole settlement was probably called Beth-Micah, contained in one court, and entered by one gate Judges 18:16. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 18:17

The five went back to Micah’s chapel (Micah’s house, Judges 18:18) and took the ephod, teraphim, etc., and brought them to the gate where the priest was talking to the 600 men. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 18:12-14

Judges 18:12-14. Mahaneh-dan That is, the camp of Dan. They came unto the house of Micah That is, to the town in which his house was, for they had not yet entered into it. Then answered the five men That is, they spake; the word answering being often used in Scripture of the first speaker. There is in these houses That is, in one of these houses. Consider what ye have to do Whether it be not expedient to take them for your further use. Perhaps the remembrance of the ark being... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 18:17-19

Judges 18:17-19. The five men came in thither Into the house and that part of it where the things were. The priest stood in the gate Whither they had drawn him forth, that they might without noise or hinderance take the things away. And these went into Micah’s house Namely, the five men, to whom when they were fetching out the image, &c., the priest said, What do ye? And they said, Lay thy hand upon thy mouth That is, be silent. A priest unto a tribe and a family A tribe or... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 18:20-21

Judges 18:20-21. The priest’s heart was glad As he was promised promotion, he not only consented to the fact, but assisted them in it, being wholly governed by a regard to his own secular interest. He went in the midst of the people Both for the greater security of such precious things, and that Micah might not be able to come near him to injure or upbraid him; and, perhaps, also, because that was the place where the ark used to be carried. They put the little ones, and the cattle,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 18:1-31

17:1-21:25 TRIBAL DISORDER WITHIN ISRAELThe writer of the book has now finished his account of the activity of the judges. To this he adds an appendix consisting of two stories (not necessarily placed in their correct chronological position in the book) that illustrate the disorder that existed in Israel during that period. The nation had no central government and people in the various tribes did as they pleased (see 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The stories record important changes that occurred... read more

E.W. Bullinger