Keraia
Judges 18

Judges 18:23

The Danites Take Micah’s Idols · Judges 18:14–31
Read Judges 18

Translations

Modern
When they called out after them, the Danites turned to face them and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you that you have called out such a company?”
Traditional
And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
Literal
And they called out to the sons of Dan, and they turned around and said to Micah, “What ails you that you have gathered such a company?”
Latin
…et post tergum clamare cœperunt. Qui cum respexissent, dixerunt ad Micham: Quid tibi vis? cur clamas?

Original

Hebrew
English
When they called out after them, the Danites turned to face them and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you that you have called out such a company?”

Notes

Judges 18:23

The question aimed to intimidate Micah into giving up the fight.

Judges 18:14–26

This dishonest exchange reveals the lack of integrity in everyone involved.

Judges 18:1–31

The migration of the Danites (compare Joshua 19:40–48) shows the tribe's failure to follow God's covenant and reflects Israel's decline. Micah's personal heresy (Judges 17:4–5) grew into the apostasy of the entire tribe (18:30–31). The initial covenant failure (Judges 17:19–36) led to social breakdown during the time of Jephthah and Samson (Judges 11–16). Eventually, law and order gave way to banditry and pillaging (Judges 18:27–28).

Judges 17:1–21:25

These two epilogues (Judges 17–18 and 19–21) show that inspired but unstructured leadership cannot last. As society moved toward chaos and civil war, the phrase, In those days there was no king in Israel appears four times. The phrase, everyone did what was right in his own eyes is added twice (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The era of inspired leadership declined and ended in disorder. Something important was missing.

Theme notes and profiles

Social Chaos in Judges

People

Micah: A man from Ephraim who set up idolatrous worship

Places

Dan: Israelite tribe; city in northern Israel; originally called Laish/Leshem

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Eshtaol Idols, Idolatry Jeroboam Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Laish (Place) Micah (Person) Priests and Levites Teraphim Travel Tribe of Dan

Topics

Jonathan: A Levite of Bethlehem, Who Becomes a Priest for Micah Theft and Thieves: The Spies of Laish