Judges Chapter 18
We learn in this chapter that the tribe of Dan had not yet taken possession of the land that was allotted to them when Joshua was still alive. It may be that the events recorded here happened shortly after the death of Joshua.
Five men were sent out to scout some potential land for the tribe of Dan when they happened upon this Levite priest living in Micah’s house. You’ll notice that it seemed to strike them as odd at first, but they said nothing to show they thought the situation needed to be corrected. In fact, they decided that a priest was just what they needed to tell them if things were going to go their way as they went to scout out land. This demonstrates the lack of faith amongst the people. God had already told them that they would be successful because He was in it. This was their inheritance.
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 4 what explanation did the priest give to the 5 scouts as to why he was in Micah’s house?
2. We learn that the tribe of Dan had a great fear of the Sidonians, a people that God had previously instructed them to conquer. So, the scouts found a community of people living peacefully on some nice ground in Laish far away from the Sidonians. How did they describe this land they found when they met up with their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol to give their report?
3. Encouraged by the scouts to rush and go possess this land, they gathered 600 men to go. Whose house did they stop at on the way?
4. The scouts told their army about the images of worship that were contained in Micah’s house and the Levite priest that resided with him. Apparently, the consensus was to take those things with them, as if for good luck I suppose. What did they do to the Levite priest?
5. What question was posed to the priest to make him think it was better for him to go with the men of the tribe of Dan?
6. When Micah discovered that the items had been removed from his home he chased after the small army. In the end what did Micah decide to do about this theft?
7. Once the army had conquered the quiet city of Laish they renamed it. What did they call the city?
8. Going forward what was the spiritual condition of the people living within the tribe of Dan?
