Judges 18:1
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
Judges 18:1 in other translations
| BSB | In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites was looking for territory to occupy. For up to that time they had not come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. |
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| WEB | In those days there was no king in Israel. In those days the tribe of the Danites sought an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day, their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. |
| ASV | In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. |
| YLT | In those days there is no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danite is seeking for itself an inheritance to inhabit, for that hath not fallen to it unto that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel by inheritance. |
| DARBY | In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought for themselves an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day their lot had not fallen to them for inheritance among the tribes of Israel. |
| BBE | In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the Danites were looking for a heritage for themselves, to be their living-place; for up to that time no distribution of land had been made to them among the tribes of Israel. |
| Webster | In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought for themselves an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day all their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. |
What does Judges 18:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 18:1-6
Jud 18:1-26. The Danites Seek Out an Inheritance.
1-6. In those days ... the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in--The Danites had a territory assigned them as well as the other tribes. But either through indolence, or a lack of energy, they did not acquire the full possession of their allotment, but suffered a considerable portion of it to be wrested out of their hands by the encroachments of their powerful neighbors, the Philistines. In consequence, being straitened for room, a considerable number resolved on trying to effect a new and additional settlement in a remote part of the land. A small deputation, being despatched to reconnoitre the country, arrived on their progress northward at the residence of Micah. Recognizing his priest as one of their former acquaintances, or perhaps by his provincial dialect, they eagerly enlisted his services in ascertaining the result of their present expedition. His answer, though apparently promising, was delusive, and really as ambiguous as those of the heathen oracles. This application brings out still more clearly and fully than the schism of Micah the woeful degeneracy of the times. The Danites expressed no emotions either of surprise or of indignation at a Levite daring to assume the priestly functions, and at the existence of a rival establishment to that of Shiloh. They were ready to seek, through means of the teraphim, the information that could only be lawfully applied for through the high priest's Urim. Being thus equally erroneous in their views and habits as Micah, they show the low state of religion, and how much superstition prevailed in all parts of the land.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Some Danites, seeking an inheritance, send five men to search the land, who arrive at the house of Micah, Jdg 18:1, Jdg 18:2. They employ the Levite, who served to his house as priest, to ask counsel for them of God, Jdg 18:3-5. He inquires, and promises them success, Jdg 18:6. They depart, and go to Laish, and find the inhabitants secure, Jdg 18:7. They return to their brethren, and encourage them to attempt the conquest of the place, Jdg 18:8-10. They send six hundred men, who, coming to the place where Micah dwelt, enter the house, and carry off the priest and his consecrated things, Jdg 18:11-21. Micah and his friends pursue them; but, being threatened, are obliged to return, Jdg 18:22-26. The Danites come to Laish, and smite it, and build a city there, which they call Dan, Jdg 18:27-29. They make the Levite their priest, and set up the images at this new city, Jdg 18:30, Jdg 18:31. Verse 1 There was no king in Israel - See Jdg 17:6 (note). The circumstances related here show that this must have happened about the time of the preceding transactions. The tribe of the Danites - That is, a part of this tribe; some families of it. All their inheritance - That is, they had not got an extent of country sufficient for them. Some families were still unprovided for, or had not sufficient territory; for we find from Jos 19:40, etc., that, although the tribe of Dan did receive their inheritance with the rest of the tribes of Israel, yet their coasts went out too little for them, and they went and fought against Leshem, (called here Laish), and took it, etc. This circumstance is marked here more particularly than in the book of Joshua. See on Jos 19:47 (note).Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The Danites seek to enlarge their inheritance, and rob Micah. --The Danites determined to take Micah's gods with them. Oh the folly of these Danites! How could they imagine those gods should protect them, that could not keep themselves from being stolen! To take them for their own use, was a double crime; it showed they neither feared God, nor regarded man, but were lost both to godliness and honesty. What a folly was it for Micah to call those his gods, which he had made, when He only is to be worshipped by us as God, that made us! That is put in God's place, which we are concerned about, as if our all were bound up in it. If people will walk in the name of their false gods, much more should we love and serve the true God!
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Judges 18:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
ל֤וֹlofor <the> itself
לּ֜וֹloto <the> it
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Judges 18:1
- Judges 1:34
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
- Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
- Judges 19:1
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth–lehem–judah.
- Joshua 19:40-48
And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir–shemesh, And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, …
- Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance.
3 At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged on their way.
7 They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope.
11 Six hundred men are sent to surprise it.
14 In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things.
27 They win Laish, and call it Dan.
30 They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood.
no king.The word {mailech,} which generally means a king, is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler, governor, or judge (see Ge 36:31. De 33:5;) and it is probable it should be so understood here, and in the parallel passages.
17:6; 19:1; 21:25
the tribe.
Jos 19:40-48
for unto.
1:34
3 At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged on their way.
7 They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope.
11 Six hundred men are sent to surprise it.
14 In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things.
27 They win Laish, and call it Dan.
30 They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood.
no king.The word {mailech,} which generally means a king, is sometimes taken for a supreme ruler, governor, or judge (see Ge 36:31. De 33:5;) and it is probable it should be so understood here, and in the parallel passages.
17:6; 19:1; 21:25
the tribe.
Jos 19:40-48
for unto.
1:34
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Judges 18:1
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
- Judges 18:2
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
Judges 18:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | EN aquellos días no había rey en Israel. Y en aquellos días la tribu de Dan buscaba posesión para sí donde morase, porque hasta entonces no le había caído suerte entre las tribus de Israel por heredad. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | En ces jours-là il n’y avait pas de roi en Israël; et, en ces jours, la tribu des Danites se cherchait un héritage pour y demeurer, car, jusqu’à ce jour-là, leur lot ne leur était point échu en héritage parmi les tribus d’Israël. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | In jenen Tagen war kein König in Israel. Und in jenen Tagen suchte sich der Stamm der Daniter ein Erbteil zum Wohnen, denn bis auf jenen Tag war ihm inmitten der Stämme Israels nichts als Erbteil zugefallen. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In diebus illis non erat rex in Israël, et tribus Dan quærebat possessionem sibi, ut habitaret in ea: usque ad illum enim diem inter ceteras tribus sortem non acceperat. |