Judges 18
18
1In those days [there was] no king in Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]: and in those days the tribe of the Dani (Dan) [Judge] sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day [all their] inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God].
2And the children of Dan [Judge] sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Tzor’ah [Hornet], and from Eshta’ol [Entreaty], to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Efrayim [Doubly Fruitful], to the house of Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?], they lodged there.
3When they [were] by the house of Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?], they knew the voice of the young man the Levi (Levite) [Joined to]: and they turned in there, and said unto him, Who brought youi here? and what do you make in this [place]? and what have youi here?
4And he said unto them, Thus and thus deals Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?] with me, and has hired me, and I am his priest.
5And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray youi, of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
6And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the Lord-Yehōvah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) [is] your way wherein you2f go.
7Then the five men departed, and came to Layish [Lion], and saw the people that [were] in it, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the people of Tzidon [Hunting], quiet and secure; and [there was] no magistrate in the land, that might put [them] to shame in [any] thing; and they [were] far from the people of Tzidon [Hunting], and had no business with [any] man.
8And they came unto their brethren to Tzor’ah [Hornet] and Eshta’ol [Entreaty]: and their brethren said unto them, What [say] you2f?
9And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it [is] very good: and [are] you2f still? be not slothful to go, [and] to enter to possess the land.
10When you2f go, you2f shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] has given it into your hands; a place where [there is] no lack of anything that [is] in the earth.
11And there went from there of the family of the Dani (Dan) [Judge], out of Tzor’ah [Hornet] and out of Eshta’ol [Entreaty], six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
12And they went up, and pitched in Kiryat-Ye’arim [City of Forests], in Y’hudah [Let Him (God) Be Praised]: wherefore they called that place Machaneh-Dan [Camp of (the) Judge] unto this day: behold, [it is] behind Kiryat-Ye’arim [City of Forests].
13And they passed there unto mount Efrayim [Doubly Fruitful], and came unto the house of Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?].
14Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Layish [Lion], and said unto their brethren, Do you2f know that there is in these houses an ephod (vest), and teraphim (household gods), and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what you2f have to do.
15And they turned toward it, and came to the house of the young man the Levi (Levite) [Joined to], [even] unto the house of Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?], and saluted him.
16And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which [were] of the children of Dan [Judge], stood by the entering of the gate.
17And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, [and] came in there, [and] took the graven image, and the ephod (vest), and the teraphim (household gods), and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men [that were] appointed with weapons of war.
18And these went into Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?]’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod (vest), and the teraphim (household gods), and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do you2f?
19And they said unto him, Hold youri peace, lay youri hand upon youi mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: [is it] better for youi to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that youi be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]?
20And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod (vest), and the teraphim (household gods), and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
21So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage (baggage) before them.
22 [And] when they were a good way from the house of Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?], the men that [were] in the houses near to Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?]’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan [Judge].
23And they cried unto the children of Dan [Judge]. And they turned their faces, and said unto Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?], What ails youi, that youi come with such a company?
24And he said, You2f have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you2f are gone away: and what have I more? and what [is] this [that] you2f say unto me, What ails youi?
25And the children of Dan [Judge] said unto him, Let not youri voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon youi, and youi lose youri life, with the lives of youri household.
26And the children of Dan [Judge] went their way: and when Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?] saw that they [were] too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
27And they took [the things] which Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?] had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Layish [Lion], unto a people [that were] at quiet and secure: and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
28And [there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Tzidon [Hunting], and they had no business with [any] man; and it was in the valley that [lies] by Beit-Rechov [House of the Street]. And they built a city, and dwelt in it.
29And they called the name of the city Dan [Judge], after the name of Dan [Judge] their father, who was born unto Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God]: howbeit the name of the city [was] Layish [Lion] at the first.
30And the children of Dan [Judge] set up the graven image: and Y’honatan [Yehovah has Given], the son of Gershom [Exiled One], the son of M’nasheh [Causing to Forget], he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan [Judge] until the day of the captivity of the land.
31And they set them up Mikhay’hu [Who is Like God?]’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] was in Shiloh [Place of Rest].
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Judges 18: NMV
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