_A.M. 2598. B.C. 1406._ The Danish spies call at Micah's house, Judges 18:1. The report they bring back, Judges 18:7. The Danites send forces, who by the way plunder Micah of his gods, Judges 18:11. They take Laish, and set up idolatry there, Judges 18:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those days there was no king in Israel_ These words seem to be repeated in order to assign the reason of such enormous practices as are recorded in this and the preceding chapter. They appear to have taken place not long after Joshua's death, probably between his death and that of the elders who... [ Continue Reading ]
_They lodged there_ Not in the same house, but near it. _They knew the voice of the young man_ Having been acquainted with him before he came to live with Micah. _Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God_ By thine ephod and teraphim, or image, which they knew he had. This and the following verse show that... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priest said, Before the Lord is your way_ Your design is under the eye of God; that is, under his direction, protection, and care. The priest undoubtedly feigned this answer; for it is not to be imagined that he could, in such a case, have any answer from God, either through his ephod and terap... [ Continue Reading ]
_After the manner of the Zidonians_ Who, dwelling in a very strong place, and abounding in wealth, lived securely in peace and luxury, and were imitated therein by the people of Laish, who were grown secure and careless, because they perceived that the Israelites never attempted any thing against th... [ Continue Reading ]
_God hath given it into your hands_ This they gather partly from God's promises, which they supposed they had from the Levite's mouth, and partly from his providence, which had so disposed them that they would be an easy prey.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mahaneh-dan_ That is, the camp of Dan. _They came unto the house of Micah_ That is, to the town in which his house was, for they had not yet entered into it. _Then answered the five men_ That is, they _spake;_ the word _answering_ being often used in Scripture of the first speaker. _There is in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The five men came in thither_ Into the house and that part of it where the things were. _The priest stood in the gate_ Whither they had drawn him forth, that they might without noise or hinderance take the things away. _And these went into Micah's house_ Namely, the five men, to whom when they were... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priest's heart was glad_ As he was promised promotion, he not only consented to the fact, but assisted them in it, being wholly governed by a regard to his own secular interest. _He went in the midst of the people_ Both for the greater security of such precious things, and that Micah might not... [ Continue Reading ]
_My gods which I made_ Or, rather, _my god_, as the Hebrew word generally signifies, meaning the image, which he considered as a symbol of God's presence with him; for he could not be so stupid as to think it to be the _great Jehovah_, who made heaven and earth, and whom he professed to worship, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let not thy voice be heard_ Thy complaints and reproaches. _Lest angry fellows run upon thee_ The soldiers, who are sharp and fierce and will soon be inflamed by thy provoking words. _And thou lose thy life _ Which, notwithstanding all thy pretences, thou valuest more than thy image, teraphim, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And burned the city with fire_ Not wholly, but in a great measure, to make their conquest more easy. _They built a city_ Or, rather, repaired and enlarged that which they found there. _After the name of Dan _ That it might be manifest they belonged to the tribe of Dan, though they were settled at a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Dan set up the graven image_ Having succeeded in their expedition, according to the prediction they supposed they had through the image, they had a great veneration for it. And as soon as they had completed their city, they set it up, and chose a minister to officiate for them, prob... [ Continue Reading ]