Judges 18:1-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 18:1-6

Here is, 1. The eye which these Danites had upon Laish, not the whole tribe of Dan, but one family of them, to whose lot, in the subdivision of Canaan, that city fell. Hitherto this family had sojourned with their brethren, who had taken possession of their lot, which lay between Judah and the Philistines, and had declined going to their own city, because there was no king in Israel to rule over them, Jdg. 18:1. It lay a great way off, separate from the rest of their tribe; it was entirely in... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 18:7-13

Here is, I. The observation which the spies made upon the city of Laish, and the posture of its inhabitants, Jdg. 18:7. Never was place so ill governed and so ill guarded, which would make it a very easy prey to the invader. 1. It was ill governed, for every man might be as bad as he would, and there was no magistrate, no heir of restraint (as the word is), that might so much as put them to shame in any thing, much less put them to death, so that by the most impudent immoralities they provoked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:1

In those days there was no king in Israel ,.... No supreme magistrate, no judge, for it was before the time of the judges, after the death of Joshua and before Othniel the first judge; this is observed before, Judges 17:6 and here repeated to account for the evil things done by the Danites, their consulting Micah's oracle, taking away his priest and his gods, and setting up his graven image in Dan, by which means idolatry was spread in Israel, and brought on their servitude to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:2

And the children of Dan sent of their family five men ,.... According to Abarbinel one out of a family, as Moses sent one out of a tribe to spy the land; and so there must be five families concerned in this affair: from their coasts, men of valour from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it ; these men were sent from the borders of the tribe, the extreme parts of it, as the word may signify, where perhaps they were the most pressed and overcrowded: Zorah and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:3

When they were by the house of Micah ,.... At their inn, which might be next to it, or as they were passing by it: they knew the voice of the young man the Levite ; who had been in their country, and they had been in his company and conversation, and they knew the tone of his voice when they heard it; a particular brogue he might have. Abarbinel conjectures, that he was singing to Micah's idol, or multiplying his prayers before him: and they turned in thither ; into Micah's house,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:4

And he said unto them, thus and thus dealeth Micah with me ,.... Told them the whole story, how he came to the door of Micah's house, how he inquired of him who he was, and from whence he came, and whither he was going, and then invited him into his house to stay with him: and hath hired me ; by the year, for ten shekels of silver, a suit of clothes, and meat and drink, and by this means he got a livelihood, and was supported: and I am his priest ; and that was his business to offer... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:5

And they said unto him, ask counsel, we pray thee, of God ,.... They did not reprove him for assuming the priestly office, when they knew he was a Levite, such was the corruption of those times, and the great depravity and declensions they were fallen into; nor even for the idolatry he was guilty of, but encourage him in it, and thought they had got a fine opportunity, which they readily laid hold on, to have counsel asked for them of God, about the success of the errand they were sent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:6

And the priest said to them, go in peace ,.... After he had consulted the oracle, or had asked counsel by the ephod and teraphim; either of his own head, or by a voice he had heard, which Satan might be permitted of God to deliver, he very roundly told them that they might proceed on in their journey with their minds quite easy, and with full assurance of success: before the Lord is your way wherein ye go ; it is seen, observed, and taken notice of by him, and he approves of it; it is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:7

And the five men departed ,.... From Mount Ephraim, and Micah's house there: and came to Laish ; which, according to Bunting F19 Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs, &c.; p. 112.) , was one hundred and four miles from Mount Ephraim, and so many he makes it to be from Jerusalem; it lay at the furthest northern border of the land of Canaan, at the foot of Mount Lebanon, near the fountain of Jordan; it was four miles from Paneas, as Jerom says F20 De loc. Heb. fol. 90. H. ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:8

And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol ,.... After they had well viewed the city, and made their remarks on the inhabitants of it, the condition and circumstances in which they were, and took notice of the goodness of the land about it, they returned to their brethren that sent them, particularly those that dwelt at the two places mentioned: and their brethren said unto them, what say ye ? what tidings do you bring? what account of the place and country where you have... read more

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