[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 from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged [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 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 in peace: before the LORD is your way [7] Then the five 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] 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 and to enter to possess the land. [10] When ye go, 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. [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. [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 that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took 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 [19] And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, 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 put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before [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? [24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, 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 run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, of thy household. [26] And the children of Dan their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.