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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 18:27-31

Here is, I. Laish conquered by the Danites. They proceeded on their march, and, because they met with no disaster, perhaps concluded they had not done amiss in robbing Micah. Many justify themselves in their impiety by their prosperity. Observe, 1. What posture they found the people of Laish in, both those of the city and those of the country about. They were quiet and secure, not jealous of the five spies that had been among them to search out the land, nor had they any intelligence of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:27

And they took the things which Micah had made ,.... The ephod, teraphim, and the two images, the Danites took them, or having taken them kept them, and went on with them: and the priest which he had ; him also they took, and who was willing enough to go with them: and came unto Laish, unto a people that were quiet and secure ; having no sentinels placed at any distance to give them warning of an enemy, nor any watchmen on their walls to discover one; and perhaps their gates not shut,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:28

And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon ,.... Under whose government and protection they seem to have been; and that city being at a distance from them, and the Danites coming upon them suddenly, there was no time to send to them for help, or any to come in to their assistance, and save them from their enemies, see Judges 18:7 . and they had no business with any man ; that could have given them notice of the design of the children of Dan against them, nor to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:29

And they called the name of the city Dan ,.... The name of their tribe, and to show that though they were at the furthest part of the land northward, and at such a distance from their tribe, which lay to the southwest, yet they belonged to it: after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel ; one of the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel: however, the name of the city was Laish at first ; which signifies a "lion", and might be so called from its being infested with lions,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 18:30

And the children of Dan set up the graven image ,.... In their new city Dan, and very probably had a house built for it, peculiar to it, in the same place where Jeroboam, in later times, set up one of his golden calves. The Danites having succeeded, according to the oracle in Micah's house, they had a very great veneration for the images they brought away with them from thence, and set them up for religious worship in a proper place; for though only mention is made of the graven image, yet... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:27

Unto a people - at quiet and secure - They found the report given by the spies to be correct. The people were apprehensive of no danger, and were unprepared for resistance; hence they were all put to the sword, and their city burnt up. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:28

There was no deliverer - They had no succor, because the Sidonians, from whom they might have expected it, were at too great a distance. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:29

Called the name of the city Dan - This city was afterwards very remarkable as one of the extremities of the promised land. The extent of the Jewish territories was generally expressed by the phrase, From Dan to Beer-Sheba; that is, From the most northern to the southern extremity. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 18:30

The children of Dan set up the graven image - They erected a chapel, or temple, among themselves, as Micah had done before; having the same implements and the same priest. And Jonathan the son of Gershom - Either this was the name of the young Levite; or they had turned him off, and got this Jonathan in his place. The son Manasseh - Who this Manasseh was, none can tell; nor does the reading appear to be genuine. He could not be Manasseh the son of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 18:27

The things which Micah had made - Rather, from Judges 18:24, “the gods which Micah had made.” See Judges 18:31; Deuteronomy 27:15; Exodus 20:4. read more

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