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.
			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. [men of: Heb. sons of]
			3	When they were by the house of Micah, they knew# the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in# thither, and said# unto him, Who brought# thee hither? and what makest# thou in this place ? and what hast thou here?
			4	And he said# unto them, Thus and thus dealeth# Micah with me, and hath hired# me, and I am his priest.
			5	And they said# unto him, Ask counsel# , we pray thee, of God, that we may know# whether our way which we go# shall be prosperous# .
			6	And the priest said# unto them, Go# in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go# .
			7	Then the five men departed# , and came# to Laish, and saw# the people that were therein, how they dwelt# careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet# and secure# ; and there was no magistrate# # in the land, that might put them to shame# in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. [Laish: also called, Leshem] [magistrate: Heb. possessor, or, heir of restraints]
			8	And they came# unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said# unto them, What say ye?
			9	And they said# , Arise# , that we may go up# against them: for we have seen# the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still# ? be not slothful# to go# , and to enter# to possess# the land.
			10	When ye go# , ye shall come# unto a people secure# , and to a large land: for God hath given# it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
			11	And there went# from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed# with weapons of war. [appointed: Heb. girded]
			12	And they went up# , and pitched# in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called# that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
			13	And they passed# thence unto mount Ephraim, and came# unto the house of Micah.
			14	Then answered# the five men that went# to spy out# the country of Laish, and said# unto their brethren, Do ye know# that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider# what ye have to do# .
			15	And they turned# thitherward, and came# to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted# # him. [saluted...: Heb. asked him of peace]
			16	And the six hundred men appointed# with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood# by the entering of the gate.
			17	And the five men that went# to spy out# the land went up# , and came in# thither, and took# the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood# in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed# with weapons of war.
			18	And these went# into Micah's house, and fetched# the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said# the priest unto them, What do# ye?
			19	And they said# unto him, Hold thy peace# , lay# thine hand upon thy mouth, and go# with us, and be to us# a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
			20	And the priest's heart was glad# , and he took# the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in# the midst of the people.
			21	So they turned# and departed# , and put# the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
			22	And when they were a good way# from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together# , and overtook# the children of Dan.
			23	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# ? [comest...: Heb. art gathered together?]
			24	And he said# , Ye have taken away# my gods which I made# , and the priest, and ye are gone away# : and what have I more? and what is this that ye say# unto me, What aileth thee?
			25	And the children of Dan said# unto him, Let not thy voice be heard# among us, lest angry# fellows run# upon thee, and thou lose# thy life, with the lives of thy household. [angry: Heb. bitter of soul]
			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.
			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.
			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 Bethrehob. And they built# a city, and dwelt# therein.
			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.
			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.
			31	And they set them up# Micah's graven image, which he made# , all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.