Judges 18:26-31

Judges 18:26

And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

 

After making an attempt to intimidate the Danites, they departed from him without incident and Micah seeing that they were too strong for him thought it best that he should return to his home with all his band and that is exactly what he did.

 

Judges 18:27

And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

 

So after departing from Micah, they did not return any of the idols to Micah nor did they give him back the priest and finally came to the entrance to Laish.  Since the people were quiet because they had a false sense of security, the Danites attacked them and took the city smiting them with the sword and even set fire to the city itself to make sure no inhabitants of Laish could dwell there with the buildings burnt.  They probably did not set fire to every building or else they would have to take time to rebuild them, so they just burnt enough of them to frighten the inhabitants to leave.

 

Judges 18:28

And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

 

The Zidonians being a distance away could not have come to help them since the attack was very swift and decisive.  They had no business or dealings with anyone while they were inhabiting Laish.  The location was in the valley of Beth-rehob which was north of Lake Semechonitis.  Then the Danites had begun to rebuild the parts of Laish they had to burn and once they began that project, they dwelled in the city.

 

Judges 18:29

And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

 

Then they changed the name of the city from Laish, which means lion, to Dan after the father of their tribe.  He was one of the twelve born to Israel who was before known as Jacob. And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:  (Genesis 35:25, KJV) 

 

Judges 18:30

And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

 

Once the children of Dan had completely settled in the city of Dan, they built a house for the idols which they brought from the house of Micah.  The Levite whose name here is probably Jonathan who was a descendant of Manasseh were the priests who ministered in the house of their idols and since idolatry had become such a part of the tribe of Dan, eventually they were taken into captivity.  If you recall when Jacob was blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, Manasseh was the firstborn but Jacob laid his hand on the head of Ephraim and gave him the blessing. (Genesis 48:13-19)

 

Judges 18:31

And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

 

Once that house was built they officially set up the graven image in this house which they took from Micah.  The Tabernacle was set up in Shiloh and Dan had become competition for the place of worship.  Of course, the Tabernacle was truly of God until the time that Solomon built the temple.  Dan had become a center of idolatry with false priests and temples.  Eventually in the time of Samuel Israel had forsaken the worship of idols.  And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.  (1 Samuel 7:3, KJV)

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