Judges 18 שׁוֹפְטִים פרק י״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Judges 18 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   בַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵםthoseאֵיןthere is noמֶלֶךְa kingבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלin Israelוּבַיָּמִיםand in the daysהָהֵםthoseשֵׁבֶטtribe ofהַדָּנִיthe Danitesמְבַקֶּשׁ־לוֹwas seeking himנַחֲלָהinheritanceלָשֶׁבֶתto dwellכִּיbecauseלֹא־נָפְלָהnot fellלּוֹto himעַד־הַיּוֹםeven until the dayהַהוּאthatבְּתוֹךְ־שִׁבְטֵיamong tribes ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelבְּנַחֲלָה׃an inheritance

   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. 2

   וַיִּשְׁלְחוּand sentבְנֵי־דָןsons of Danמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּםfrom their familyחֲמִשָּׁהfiveאֲנָשִׁיםmenמִקְצוֹתָםfrom their coastsאֲנָשִׁיםmenבְּנֵי־חַיִלsons of mightמִצׇּרְעָהfrom Zorahוּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹלand from Eshtaolלְרַגֵּלto spy outאֶת־הָאָרֶץthe landוּלְחׇקְרָהּand to search itוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֲלֵהֶםunto themלְכוּgoחִקְרוּexploreאֶת־הָאָרֶץthe landוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameהַר־אֶפְרַיִםmount Ephraimעַד־בֵּיתunto the house ofמִיכָהMicahוַיָּלִינוּand they lodgedשָׁם׃there

   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.

3. 3

   הֵמָּהtheyעִם־בֵּיתwith the house ofמִיכָהMicahוְהֵמָּהand theyהִכִּירוּthey recognizedאֶת־קוֹלthe voice ofהַנַּעַרthe young manהַלֵּוִיthe Leviteוַיָּסוּרוּand they departedשָׁםthereוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלוֹto himמִי־הֱבִיאֲךָwho brought youהֲלֹםhereוּמָה־אַתָּהand what youעֹשֶׂהdoבָּזֶהhereinוּמַה־לְּךָand what have youפֹה׃here

   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. 4

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵהֶםunto themכָּזֹהlike thisוְכָזֶהand like thisעָשָׂהhe didלִיto meמִיכָהMicahוַיִּשְׂכְּרֵנִיand he has hired meוָאֱהִי־לוֹand I became to himלְכֹהֵן׃to a priest

   And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלוֹto himשְׁאַל־נָאask I prayבֵאלֹהִיםof Godוְנֵדְעָהso let us knowהֲתַצְלִחַwill it prosperדַּרְכֵּנוּour journeyאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנַחְנוּweהֹלְכִיםwalkingעָלֶיהָ׃upon it

   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. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidלָהֶםto themהַכֹּהֵןthe priestלְכוּgoלְשָׁלוֹםfor peaceנֹכַחbeforeיְהֹוָהthe LORDדַּרְכְּכֶםyour waysאֲשֶׁרwhichתֵּלְכוּ־בָהּ׃you may walk in it

   And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.

7. 7

   וַיֵּלְכוּand they wentחֲמֵשֶׁתfiveהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameלָיְשָׁהto Laishוַיִּרְאוּand they sawאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleאֲשֶׁר־בְּקִרְבָּהּwhich was in her midstיוֹשֶׁבֶת־לָבֶטַחdwelling in safetyכְּמִשְׁפַּטafter the manner ofצִדֹנִיםthe Zidoniansשֹׁקֵטat peaceוּבֹטֵחַand secureוְאֵין־מַכְלִיםand there was none putting to shameדָּבָרa thingבָּאָרֶץin the landיוֹרֵשׁpossessingעֶצֶרrestraintוּרְחוֹקִיםand distant onesהֵמָּהtheyמִצִּידֹנִיםfrom Zidoniansוְדָבָרand businessאֵין־לָהֶםthere is no to themעִם־אָדָם׃with man

   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.

8. 8

   וַיָּבֹאוּand they cameאֶל־אֲחֵיהֶםunto their brethrenצׇרְעָהZorahוְאֶשְׁתָּאֹלand Eshtaolוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלָהֶםto themאֲחֵיהֶםtheir brethrenמָהwhatאַתֶּם׃you are

   And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

9. 9

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidקוּמָהariseוְנַעֲלֶהand let us go upעֲלֵיהֶםupon themכִּיforרָאִינוּwe sawאֶת־הָאָרֶץthe landוְהִנֵּהand beholdטוֹבָהgoodמְאֹדexceedinglyוְאַתֶּםand youמַחְשִׁיםare stillאַל־תֵּעָצְלוּdo not hesitateלָלֶכֶתto goלָבֹאto enterלָרֶשֶׁתto possessאֶת־הָאָרֶץ׃the land

   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. 10

    כְּבֹאֲכֶםwhen you comeתָּבֹאוּshould enterאֶל־עַםunto the people ofבֹּטֵחַare trustingוְהָאָרֶץand the landרַחֲבַתbroad ofיָדַיִםboth handsכִּי־נְתָנָהּbecause was givenאֱלֹהִיםGodבְּיֶדְכֶםinto your handsמָקוֹםa placeאֲשֶׁרwhichאֵין־שָׁםthere is no thereמַחְסוֹרlackכׇּל־דָּבָרany thingאֲשֶׁרwhichבָּאָרֶץ׃in the land

    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. 11

    וַיִּסְעוּand they set outמִשָּׁםfrom thereמִמִּשְׁפַּחַתof the family ofהַדָּנִיthe Danitesמִצׇּרְעָהfrom Zorahוּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹלand from Eshtaolשֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹתsix hundredאִישׁmenחָגוּרgirdedכְּלֵיweapons ofמִלְחָמָה׃war

    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.

12. 12

    וַיַּעֲלוּand they ascendedוַיַּחֲנוּand they encampedבְּקִרְיַתat Kiriath-יְעָרִיםjearimבִּיהוּדָהin Judahעַל־כֵּןthereforeקָרְאוּthey calledלַמָּקוֹםthe placeהַהוּאthatמַחֲנֵה־דָןMahaneh-danעַדuntilהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּהthisהִנֵּהbeholdאַחֲרֵיafterקִרְיַתKiriath-יְעָרִים׃jearim

    And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjath-jearim.

13. 13

    וַיַּעַבְרוּand they crossed overמִשָּׁםfrom thereהַר־אֶפְרָיִםmount Ephraimוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameעַד־בֵּיתunto the house ofמִיכָה׃Micah

    And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

14. 14

    וַיַּעֲנוּand they answeredחֲמֵשֶׁתfiveהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menהַהֹלְכִיםthe ones walkingלְרַגֵּלto spy outאֶת־הָאָרֶץthe landלַיִשׁof Laishוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֶל־אֲחֵיהֶםunto their brethrenהַיְדַעְתֶּםdo you knowכִּיthatיֵשׁthereבַּבָּתִּיםin the housesהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֵפוֹדan ephodוּתְרָפִיםand teraphimוּפֶסֶלand a graven imageוּמַסֵּכָהand a molten imageוְעַתָּהand nowדְּעוּknowמַה־תַּעֲשׂוּ׃what you do

    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. 15

    וַיָּסוּרוּand they departedשָׁמָּהthereוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameאֶל־בֵּית־הַנַּעַרto the house of the young manהַלֵּוִיthe Leviteבֵּיתthe house ofמִיכָהMicahוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־לוֹand they asked himלְשָׁלוֹם׃for peace

    And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

16. 16

    וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹתand six hundredאִישׁmenחֲגוּרִיםgirded withכְּלֵיweapons ofמִלְחַמְתָּםtheir warנִצָּבִיםstandingפֶּתַחdoor ofהַשָּׁעַרthe gateאֲשֶׁרwhichמִבְּנֵי־דָן׃of the sons of Dan

    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. 17

    וַיַּעֲלוּand they ascendedחֲמֵשֶׁתfiveהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menהַהֹלְכִיםthe ones walkingלְרַגֵּלto spy outאֶת־הָאָרֶץthe landבָּאוּcameשָׁמָּהthereלָקְחוּthey tookאֶת־הַפֶּסֶלthe carved imageוְאֶת־הָאֵפוֹדand the ephodוְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִיםand the teraphimוְאֶת־הַמַּסֵּכָהand the molten imageוְהַכֹּהֵןand the priestנִצָּבstandingפֶּתַחdoor ofהַשַּׁעַרthe gateוְשֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹתand six hundredהָאִישׁthe manהֶחָגוּרgirdedכְּלֵיweapons ofהַמִּלְחָמָה׃the battle

    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. 18

    וְאֵלֶּהand theseבָּאוּcameבֵּיתthe house ofמִיכָהMicahויִּקְחוּand they tookאֶת־פֶּסֶלan image ofהָאֵפוֹדthe ephodוְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִיםand the teraphimוְאֶת־הַמַּסֵּכָהand the molten imageוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵיהֶםto themהַכֹּהֵןthe priestמָהwhatאַתֶּםyou areעֹשִׂים׃doing

    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. 19

    וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלוֹto himהַחֲרֵשׁhold your peaceשִׂים־יָדְךָput your handעַל־פִּיךָupon your mouthוְלֵךְand goעִמָּנוּwith usוֶהְיֵה־לָנוּand be to usלְאָבfor a fatherוּלְכֹהֵןand for a priestהֲטוֹבis it betterהֱיוֹתְךָyour beingכֹהֵןa priestלְבֵיתto the house ofאִישׁa manאֶחָדoneאוֹorהֱיוֹתְךָyour beingכֹהֵןa priestלְשֵׁבֶטto the tribe ofוּלְמִשְׁפָּחָהand of a familyבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃in Israel

    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. 20

    וַיִּיטַבand it was goodלֵבthe heart ofהַכֹּהֵןthe priestוַיִּקַּחand tookאֶת־הָאֵפוֹדthe ephodוְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִיםand the teraphimוְאֶת־הַפָּסֶלand the carved imageוַיָּבֹאand cameבְּקֶרֶבamongהָעָם׃the people

    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. 21

    וַיִּפְנוּand they turnedוַיֵּלֵכוּand they wentוַיָּשִׂימוּand they stationedאֶת־הַטַּףthe childrenוְאֶת־הַמִּקְנֶהand the livestockוְאֶת־הַכְּבוּדָּהand the valuablesלִפְנֵיהֶם׃before them

    So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

22. 22

    הֵמָּהtheyהִרְחִיקוּthey had gone farמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofמִיכָהMicahוְהָאֲנָשִׁיםand the menאֲשֶׁרwhichבַּבָּתִּיםin the housesאֲשֶׁרwhichעִם־בֵּיתwith the house ofמִיכָהMicahנִזְעֲקוּwere gathered togetherוַיַּדְבִּיקוּand they overtookאֶת־בְּנֵי־דָן׃sons of Dan

    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. 23

    וַיִּקְרְאוּand they calledאֶל־בְּנֵי־דָןto the sons of Danוַיַּסֵּבּוּand they turned roundפְּנֵיהֶםtheir facesוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלְמִיכָהto Micahמַה־לְּךָwhat have youכִּיthatנִזְעָקְתָּ׃you have been called together

    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?

24. 24

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֶת־אֱלֹהַיmy godsאֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִיwhich I madeלְקַחְתֶּםyou have takenוְאֶת־הַכֹּהֵןand the priestוַתֵּלְכוּand you are goneוּמַה־לִּיyea and what to meעוֹדany moreוּמַה־זֶּהand what is thisתֹּאמְרוּyou sayאֵלַיto meמַה־לָּךְ׃what to you

    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. 25

    וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֵלָיוto himבְּנֵי־דָןsons of Danאַל־תַּשְׁמַעlet not be heardקוֹלְךָyour voiceעִמָּנוּwith usפֶּן־יִפְגְּעוּlest they encounterבָכֶםover youאֲנָשִׁיםmenמָרֵיbitter ofנֶפֶשׁsoulוְאָסַפְתָּהand you will gatherנַפְשְׁךָyour soulוְנֶפֶשׁand soulבֵּיתֶךָ׃your house

    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.

26. 26

    וַיֵּלְכוּand they wentבְנֵי־דָןsons of Danלְדַרְכָּםto their wayוַיַּרְאand sawמִיכָהMicahכִּי־חֲזָקִיםbecause are strongהֵמָּהtheyמִמֶּנּוּfrom himוַיִּפֶןand he turnedוַיָּשׇׁבand he returnedאֶל־בֵּיתוֹ׃to his house

    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. 27

    וְהֵמָּהand theyלָקְחוּthey tookאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהthat which had madeמִיכָהMicahוְאֶת־הַכֹּהֵןand the priestאֲשֶׁרwhichהָיָה־לוֹwas himוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameעַל־לַיִשׁupon Laishעַל־עַםover people ofשֹׁקֵטat peaceוּבֹטֵחַand secureוַיַּכּוּand struckאוֹתָםthemלְפִי־חָרֶבby the edge of the swordוְאֶת־הָעִירand the cityשָׂרְפוּthey burnedבָאֵשׁ׃in fire

    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. 28

    וְאֵיןand there is noמַצִּילdelivererכִּיbecauseרְחוֹקָה־הִיאfar distant it isמִצִּידוֹןfrom Zidonוְדָבָרand businessאֵין־לָהֶםthere is no to themעִם־אָדָםwith manוְהִיאand itבָּעֵמֶקin this valleyאֲשֶׁרwhichלְבֵית־רְחוֹבto Beth-rehobוַיִּבְנוּand they builtאֶת־הָעִירthe cityוַיֵּשְׁבוּand they had dweltבָהּ׃in it

    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.

29. 29

    וַיִּקְרְאוּand they calledשֵׁם־הָעִירthe name of the cityדָּןDanבְּשֵׁםin the name ofדָּןDanאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherאֲשֶׁרwhichיוּלַּדhe was bornלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto IsraelוְאוּלָםneverthelessלַיִשׁLaishשֵׁם־הָעִירthe name of the cityלָרִאשֹׁנָה׃at the first

    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. 30

    וַיָּקִימוּand they raisedלָהֶםto themבְּנֵי־דָןsons of Danאֶת־הַפָּסֶלthe carved imageוִיהוֹנָתָןand Jonathanבֶּן־גֵּרְשֹׁםson of Gershomבֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁהson of Manassehהוּאheוּבָנָיוand his sonsהָיוּwereכֹהֲנִיםpriestsלְשֵׁבֶטto the tribe ofהַדָּנִיthe Danitesעַד־יוֹםuntil the day ofגְּלוֹתthe captivity ofהָאָרֶץ׃the land

    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. 31

    וַיָּשִׂימוּand they stationedלָהֶםto themאֶת־פֶּסֶלan image ofמִיכָהMicahאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂהhe didכׇּל־יְמֵיall days ofהֱיוֹתwasבֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִיםthe house of Godבְּשִׁלֹה׃in Shiloh

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