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1. At that time Israel did not have a king. And at that time the tribe of Dan was still looking for a land where they could live, a land of their own. The Danites had not yet been given their own land among the tribes of Israel.
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1. In those H1992 days H3117 there was no H369 king H4428 in Israel H3478 : and in those H1992 days H3117 the tribe H7626 of the Danites H1839 sought H1245 them an inheritance H5159 to dwell H3427 in; for H3588 unto H5704 that H1931 day H3117 all their inheritance H5159 had not H3808 fallen H5307 unto them among H8432 the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 .
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2. So, from their family groups, they chose five soldiers from the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out and explore the land. They were told, "Go, explore the land." They came to the mountains of Ephraim, to Micah's house, where they spent the night.
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2. And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 sent H7971 of their family H4480 H4940 five H2568 men H376 from their coasts H4480 H7098 , men H376 of valor H2428 , from Zorah H4480 H6881 , and from Eshtaol H4480 H847 , to spy out H7270 H853 the land H776 , and to search H2713 it ; and they said H559 unto H413 them, Go H1980 , search H2713 H853 the land H776 : who when they came H935 to mount H2022 Ephraim H669 , to H5704 the house H1004 of Micah H4318 , they lodged H3885 there H8033 .
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3. When they came near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. So they stopped there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing here? Why are you here?"
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3. When they H1992 were by H5973 the house H1004 of Micah H4318 , they H1992 knew H5234 H853 the voice H6963 of the young man H5288 the Levite H3881 : and they turned in H5493 thither H8033 , and said H559 unto him, Who H4310 brought H935 thee hither H1988 ? and what H4100 makest H6213 thou H859 in this H2088 place ? and what H4100 hast thou here H6311 ?
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4. He told them what Micah had done for him, saying "He hired me. I am his priest."
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4. And he said H559 unto H413 them, Thus H2090 and thus H2090 dealeth H6213 Micah H4318 with me , and hath hired H7936 me , and I am H1961 his priest H3548 .
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5. They said to him, "Please ask God if our journey will be successful."
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5. And they said H559 unto him , Ask counsel H7592 , we pray thee H4994 , of God H430 , that we may know H3045 whether our way H1870 which H834 we H587 go H1980 shall be prosperous H6743 .
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6. The priest said to them, "Go in peace. The Lord is pleased with your journey."
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6. And the priest H3548 said H559 unto them, Go H1980 in peace H7965 : before H5227 the LORD H3068 is your way H1870 wherein H834 ye go H1980 .
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7. So the five men left. When they came to the city of Laish, they saw that the people there lived in safety, like the people of Sidon. They thought they were safe and had plenty of everything. They lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone else.
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7. Then the five H2568 men H376 departed H1980 , and came H935 to Laish H3919 , and saw H7200 H853 the people H5971 that H834 were therein H7130 , how they dwelt H3427 careless H983 , after the manner H4941 of the Zidonians H6722 , quiet H8252 and secure H982 ; and there was no H369 magistrate H3423 H6114 in the land H776 , that might put them to shame H3637 in any thing H1697 ; and they H1992 were far H7350 from the Zidonians H4480 H6722 , and had no H369 business H1697 with H5973 any man H120 .
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8. When the five men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What did you find?"
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8. And they came H935 unto H413 their brethren H251 to Zorah H6881 and Eshtaol H847 : and their brethren H251 said H559 unto them, What H4100 say ye H859 ?
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9. They answered, "We have seen the land, and it is very good. We should attack them. Aren't you going to do something? Don't wait! Let's go and take that land!
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9. And they said H559 , Arise H6965 , that we may go up H5927 against H5921 them: for H3588 we have seen H7200 H853 the land H776 , and, behold H2009 , it is very H3966 good H2896 : and are ye H859 still H2814 ? be not slothful H6101 H408 to go H1980 , and to enter H935 to possess H3423 H853 the land H776 .
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10. When you go, you will see there is plenty of land -- plenty of everything! The people are not expecting an attack. Surely God has handed that land over to us!"
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10. When ye go H935 , ye shall come H935 unto H413 a people H5971 secure H982 , and to a large H7342 land H776 : for H3588 God H430 hath given H5414 it into your hands H3027 ; a place H4725 where H834 there is no H369 want H4270 of any H3605 thing H1697 that H834 is in the earth H776 .
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11. So six hundred Danites left Zorah and Eshtaol ready for war.
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11. And there went H5265 from thence H4480 H8033 of the family H4480 H4940 of the Danites H1839 , out of Zorah H4480 H6881 and out of Eshtaol H4480 H847 , six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 appointed H2296 with weapons H3627 of war H4421 .
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12. On their way they set up camp near the city of Kiriath Jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is named Mahaneh Dann to this day.
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12. And they went up H5927 , and pitched H2583 in Kirjath H7157 -jearim , in Judah H3063 : wherefore H5921 H3651 they called H7121 that H1931 place H4725 Mahaneh H4265 -dan unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 : behold H2009 , it is behind H310 Kirjath H7157 -jearim.
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13. From there they traveled on to the mountains of Ephraim. Then they came to Micah's house.
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13. And they passed H5674 thence H4480 H8033 unto mount H2022 Ephraim H669 , and came H935 unto H5704 the house H1004 of Micah H4318 .
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14. The five men who had explored the land around Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know in one of these houses there are a holy vest, household gods, an idol, and a statue? You know what to do."
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14. Then answered H6030 the five H2568 men H376 that went H1980 to spy out H7270 H853 the country H776 of Laish H3919 , and said H559 unto H413 their brethren H251 , Do ye know H3045 that H3588 there is H3426 in these H428 houses H1004 an ephod H646 , and teraphim H8655 , and a graven image H6459 , and a molten image H4541 ? now H6258 therefore consider H3045 what H4100 ye have to do H6213 .
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15. So they stopped at the Levite's house, which was also Micah's house, and greeted the Levite.
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15. And they turned H5493 thitherward H8033 , and came H935 to H413 the house H1004 of the young man H5288 the Levite H3881 , even unto the house H1004 of Micah H4318 , and saluted H7592 H7965 him.
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16. The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance gate, wearing their weapons of war.
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16. And the six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 appointed H2296 with their weapons H3627 of war H4421 , which H834 were of the children H4480 H1121 of Dan H1835 , stood H5324 by the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 .
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17. The five spies went into the house and took the idol, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue. The priest and the six hundred men armed for war stood by the entrance gate.
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17. And the five H2568 men H376 that went H5927 to spy out H7270 H853 the land H776 went up H5927 , and came in H935 thither H8033 , and took H3947 H853 the graven image H6459 , and the ephod H646 , and the teraphim H8655 , and the molten image H4541 : and the priest H3548 stood H5324 in the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 with the six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 that were appointed H2296 with weapons H3627 of war H4421 .
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18. When the spies went into Micah's house and took the image, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue, the priest asked them, "What are you doing?"
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18. And these H428 went H935 into Micah H4318 's house H1004 , and fetched H3947 H853 the carved image H6459 , the ephod H646 , and the teraphim H8655 , and the molten image H4541 . Then said H559 the priest H3548 unto H413 them, What H4100 do H6213 ye H859 ?
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19. They answered, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and family group in Israel?"
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19. And they said H559 unto him , Hold thy peace H2790 , lay H7760 thine hand H3027 upon H5921 thy mouth H6310 , and go H1980 with H5973 us , and be H1961 to us a father H1 and a priest H3548 : is it better H2896 for thee to be H1961 a priest H3548 unto the house H1004 of one H259 man H376 , or H176 that thou be H1961 a priest H3548 unto a tribe H7626 and a family H4940 in Israel H3478 ?
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20. This made the priest happy. So he took the holy vest, the household idols, and the idol and went with the Danites.
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20. And the priest H3548 's heart H3820 was glad H3190 , and he took H3947 H853 the ephod H646 , and the teraphim H8655 , and the graven image H6459 , and went H935 in the midst H7130 of the people H5971 .
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21. They left Micah's house, putting their little children, their animals, and everything they owned in front of them.
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21. So they turned H6437 and departed H1980 , and put H7760 H853 the little ones H2945 and the cattle H4735 and the carriage H3520 before H6440 them.
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22. When they had gone a little way from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called out and caught up with them.
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22. And when they H1992 were a good way H7368 from the house H4480 H1004 of Micah H4318 , the men H376 that H834 were in the houses H1004 near H5973 to Micah H4318 's house H1004 were gathered together H2199 , and overtook H1692 H853 the children H1121 of Dan H1835 .
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23. The men with Micah shouted at the Danites, who turned around and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you? Why have you been called out to fight?"
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23. And they cried H7121 unto H413 the children H1121 of Dan H1835 . And they turned H5437 their faces H6440 , and said H559 unto Micah H4318 , What H4100 aileth thee, that H3588 thou comest with such a company H2199 ?
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24. Micah answered, "You took my gods that I made and my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What's the matter?'"
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24. And he said H559 , Ye have taken away H3947 H853 my gods H430 which H834 I made H6213 , and the priest H3548 , and ye are gone away H1980 : and what H4100 have I more H5750 ? and what H4100 is this H2088 that ye say H559 unto H413 me, What H4100 aileth thee?
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25. The Danites answered, "You should not argue with us. Some of our angry men might attack you, killing you and your family."
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25. And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 said H559 unto H413 him , Let not H408 thy voice H6963 be heard H8085 among H5973 us, lest H6435 angry H4751 H5315 fellows H376 run H6293 upon thee , and thou lose H622 thy life H5315 , with the lives H5315 of thy household H1004 .
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26. Then the Danites went on their way. Micah knew they were too strong for him, so he turned and went back home.
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26. And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 went H1980 their way H1870 : and when Micah H4318 saw H7200 that H3588 they H1992 were too strong H2389 for H4480 him , he turned H6437 and went back H7725 unto H413 his house H1004 .
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27. Then the Danites took what Micah had made and his priest and went on to Laish. They attacked those peaceful people and killed them with their swords and then burned the city.
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27. And they H1992 took H3947 H853 the things which H834 Micah H4318 had made H6213 , and the priest H3548 which H834 he had H1961 , and came H935 unto H5921 Laish H3919 , unto H5921 a people H5971 that were at quiet H8252 and secure H982 : and they smote H5221 them with the edge H6310 of the sword H2719 , and burnt H8313 the city H5892 with fire H784 .
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28. There was no one to save the people of Laish. They lived too far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone else. Laish was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The people of Dan rebuilt the city and lived there.
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28. And there was no H369 deliverer H5337 , because H3588 it H1931 was far H7350 from Zidon H4480 H6721 , and they had no H369 business H1697 with H5973 any man H120 ; and it H1931 was in the valley H6010 that H834 lieth by Beth H1050 -rehob . And they built H1129 H853 a city H5892 , and dwelt H3427 therein.
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29. They changed the name of Laish to Dan, naming it for their ancestor Dan, one of the sons of Israel.
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29. And they called H7121 the name H8034 of the city H5892 Dan H1835 , after the name H8034 of Dan H1835 their father H1 , who H834 was born H3205 unto Israel H3478 : howbeit H199 the name H8034 of the city H5892 was Laish H3919 at the first H7223 .
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30. The people of Dan set up the idols in the city of Dan. Jonathan son of Gershom, Moses' son, and his sons served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the land was captured.
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30. And the children H1121 of Dan H1835 set up H6965 H853 the graven image H6459 : and Jonathan H3083 , the son H1121 of Gershom H1648 , the son H1121 of Manasseh H4519 , he H1931 and his sons H1121 were H1961 priests H3548 to the tribe H7626 of Dan H1839 until H5704 the day H3117 of the captivity H1540 of the land H776 .
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31. The people of Dan set up the idols Micah had made as long as the Holy Tent of God was in Shiloh.
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31. And they set them up H7760 H853 Micah H4318 's graven image H6459 , which H834 he made H6213 , all H3605 the time H3117 that the house H1004 of God H430 was H1961 in Shiloh H7887 .
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