士師記 18:1-2 JC

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 18:1-12

The Danites Seek a New Location v. 1. In those days there was no king in Israel, this fact being noted here again to explain the behavior of the Danites and to register the author's disapproval of their action; and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. Dan had indeed been given an allotment, in Northern Philistia, in the foothills and in the plain along the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 18:1-13

The tribe of Dan, desirous of more room, despatches explorers. These, after spending a night near Micah’s religious establishment, become aware of its existence, and consult its oracle. Proceeding, they find at Laish an inviting place, easy of conquest. They return home, and a colony of six hundred families is sent outJudges 18:1-13.1In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their [no]... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 18:1-31

The account of the backsliding of individuals is followed by an illustration of its widespread existence among the people. While seeking new territory the Danites found Micah and the condition of things established in his house. When presently they moved forward to success, they did not hesitate to size Micah's images and capture his priest. The terrible decadence of the religious ideal is startlingly revealed in this whole story. Deeply embedded in the character of the people was the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:1

Chapter 18. The Sanctuary of Dan. This chapter describes how the Danites, being unsuccessful in their allotted inheritance, sent out spies to search the land, and discover if they could find a better place to settle and expand. These spies returned and reported that Laish was such, and encouraged the Danites to go with them and possess it. For that purpose they sent six hundred men to capture it, who on their way called at the house of Micah, and stole his priests and his gods. Having captured... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:2

Judges 18:2 a ‘And the children of Dan sent from their family five men from their whole number, men of valour from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it. And they said unto them, Go, and search the land.’ The five men each probably represented a clan. They were specially picked men of outstanding ability and courage sent out to find an area where they might conveniently settle, where there were no Philistines or Amorites, and where they would have no difficulty in... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:1-7

Judges 18:1-: . The Danite Scouts at the House of Micah.— This chapter is of great value as an illustration of the mode in which an Israelitish tribe found a settlement in the country. We are taken back almost to the time of the Conquest. On the difficulty which the Danites had in taking possession of the territory first allotted to them see Judges 1:34. Some of them determined to seek their fortune in fresh fields. Their five scouts passed the house of Micah on the way north. How they knew... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:1-31

Judges 17-18. This section is the first of two supplements. It explains the origin of the famous shrine at Dan, and the naî veté of its moral and religious ideas proves how ancient it is. In not a few places the text has evidently been tampered with by scribes, who took offence at practices which were from a later point of view irregular. The events in question must have occurred before the time of Deborah ( Judges 5:17). read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Judges 18:1

In those days; not long after Joshua’s death, of which See Poole on "Judges 17:6". The tribe of the Danites; a part or branch of that tribe, consisting only of six hundred men of war, Judges 18:16, with their families, Judges 18:21; or, a family of the Danites; for the word schebet, which properly signifies a tribe, is sometimes taken for a family, as Judges 20:12, as elsewhere family is put for a tribe, as Zechariah 12:13. All their inheritance had not fallen unto them; the lot had fallen to... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Judges 18:2

Of their family; which shows that it was but one, though a large family, which was engaged in this expedition. Eshtaol; of which see Joshua 19:41; Judges 13:2,Judges 13:25. They lodged there; not in the same house, but near it, as appears from the next verse, in a neighbouring place. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Judges 18:1-31

THE IMAGE WORSHIP EXPANDING INTO TRIBAL IDOLATRYHOMILETICSI. The straits to which unbelief reduces the strong. Judges 18:1.“The tribe of Dan sought them an inheritance to dwell in.” Not that they had had no inheritance till now. When a distribution was made of the land by Joshua, a considerable territory was allotted to the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:40-47). The other tribes, having received their proportion first, a small area comparatively was left for this tribe. But Judah gave up to them... read more