Judges 18:14-20 NIV

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 18:14

Then they answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish ,.... That were sent by their brethren, Judges 18:5 and, as it seems from hence, were sent particularly to Laish; they had some notion of that place as proper for them, and therefore sent those men to reconnoitre it; and now as they had passed this way before, when they came within sight of Micah's house, it put them in mind of what they had seen there; wherefore one in the name of the rest, and with their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:15

And they turned thitherward ,.... It seems as if the house lay a little out of their way, and therefore they turned on one hand to go unto it: and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah ; for the young man's house was only an apartment of Micah's, and lay very probably next to that in which the images, and oracle were; and they made up to the young man's apartment, rather than to Micah's, because the above things were under his care: and saluted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:16

And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war ,.... Who were armed men, and marched with their armour about them: which were of the children of Dan ; for no other were concerned in this expedition: stood by the entering of the gate; not of Micah's house, but of the city in which his house was; here they stood while the five men went up to the house. 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

Adam Clarke