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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 18:14-26

The Danites had sent out their spies to find out a country for them, and they sped well in their search; but here, now that they came to the place (for till this brought it to their mind it does not appear that they had mentioned it to their brethren), they oblige them with a further discovery?they can tell them where there are gods: ?Here, in these houses, there are an ephod, and teraphim, and a great many fine things for devotion, such as we have not the like in our country; now therefore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:17

And the five men that went out to spy the land went up and came thither ,.... They first came to Micah's house, and saluted the young man, and after that salutation told him there was such a number of their brethren at the gate of the city, very probably, who would be glad to see him; and the young man being desirous also of seeing them, and paying his respects to them, went with them thither, and after they had introduced him, left him discoursing with them, and then returned to his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:18

And these went into Micah's house ,.... Into that part of it where his gods were; not the six hundred men last mentioned, but the five men who knew the house, and the chapel where the things were: and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image ; and brought them away in their hands to their brethren at the gate, where the priest also was: and when he saw them: then said the priest to them, what do ye ? what do you mean by this? is this your kindness... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:19

And they said unto him, hold thy peace ,.... Be silent, make no disturbance, be quiet and easy: lay thy hand upon thy mouth ; as a token of silence; so the Egyptians used to paint Harpocrates, the god of silence, with his fingers pressing his lips: and go with us ; for they wanted him as well as his gods, not knowing well how to make use of them without him: and be to us a father and a priest ; to direct them, instruct them, perform acts of devotion for them, and ask counsel on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:20

And the priest's heart was glad ,.... He rejoiced that such an opportunity offered; it suited well with his covetous, ambitious, rambling, and unsettled disposition of mind: and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image ; and no doubt the molten image also, out of the hands of the five men into his own, agreeing to go with them, and officiate for them: and went in the midst of the people ; the six hundred armed men, either for the security of himself, if Micah should... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:21

So they turned and departed ,.... Turned from the gate of the city where Micah dwelt, and marched forward to Laish: and put the little ones, and the cattle, and the carriage, before them ; partly for safety from Micah, and his friends and neighbours, and partly that they might not be overdriven: their wives, who doubtless were with them, though not mentioned, and their children, and also their flocks and herds, they brought with them from Zorah and Eshtaol, as never intending to return... read more

Adam Clarke

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

These went unto Micah ' s house - The five men went in, while the six hundred armed men stood at the gate. read more

Adam Clarke

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:21

The little ones and the cattle , etc. - These men were so confident of success that they removed their whole families, household goods, cattle, and all. And the carriage - כבודה kebudah , their substance, precious things, or valuables; omne quod erat pretiosum , Vulgate: or rather the luggage or baggage; what Caesar calls in his commentaries impedimenta; and what the Septuagint here translate βαρος , weight or baggage. We are not to suppose that any wheel carriage... read more

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