Juízes 18
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Juízes 18
NJB (MT versing) Danites Seek Territory Danites Adopt Micah's Idolatry The Failures of the Israelite Tribes (17:1-21:25) Micah and the Tribe of Dan The Danites in Search of a Territory The Migration of the Tribe of Dan 18:1-6 18:1-6 18:1-6 18:1-3 18:1-6 18:4 18:5 18:6 18:7-10 18:7-10 18:7-10 18:7-10 18:7 18:8-10 The Migration of the Danites 18:11-13 18:11-13 18:11-13 18:11-13 18:11-13 Danites Take Micah's Idols 18:14-20 18:14-21 18:14-20 18:14-17 18:14 18:15-20 18:18 18:19-20 18:21-26 18:21-26 18:21-23 18:21-26 18:22-26 18:24 Danites Settle in Laish 18:25-26 Capture of Laish; Foundation of Dan and the Sanctuary There 18:27-31 18:27-29 18:27-31 18:27-31 18:27-31 18:30-31 Etc.
Juízes 18:1-6
18:1 "there was no king of Israel" This is the recurrent phrase of Judges 17-21. ▣ "in those days" This refers to the period before there was a king (i.e., Saul). Another historical marker (Jdgs. 18:30) shows this was written or edited by later generations. period of monarchy period of Assyrian exile ▣ "the tribe of the Danites" Dan was allotted land in the south (cf. Jos. 19:41-46; Jdgs. 1:34-36), but pressure from the Amorites and Philistines caused them to seek another inheritance (cf. Jos. 19:47). The unsettled condition is reflected in the phrase "camp of Dan" (cf. Jdgs. 13:25; 18:12). ▣ "for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel" This is a strange statement in light of Jos. 19:40-46. However, Jos. 19:47 mentions a city called "Leshem," which most scholars think is the "Laish" of Jdgs. 18:7, 29. If this is so, then Joshua, in its final form, had to be written after the relocation of Dan to the north. The other option is to translate this phrase as "the Danite tribe was looking for a place to settle because at that time they did not yet have a place to call their own among the tribes of Israel" (NET Bible). 18:2 "valiant men" This could refer to nobility (i.e., social rank) military ability courage See full note at Jdgs. 6:12. 18:3 "they recognized the voice" They recognized either his accent (Judah) or his specialized vocabulary (i.e., Levite). 18:5-6 The five spies recognized this private shrine as a valid worship site of YHWH. They fully accepted this Levite's ability to communicate with YHWH. "Your way in which you are going has the Lord's approval" "May the presence of the Lord be with you on your way" NRSV, MT "The mission you are on is under the eye of the Lord" "YHWH is watching over your journey" "The Lord views with favor the mission you are going on" "Your journey that on which you are going, is before the Lord" "May the Lord prosper the errand on which you go" 18:6 Notice the liturgical use of YHWH. In Jdgs. 18:31 the shrine is called "the house of Elohim." This Levite was asserting his credentials as a true priest of YHWH. He was a grandson of Moses. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.
Juízes 18:7-10
18:7 "Laish" It (BDB 539 II) is also known as "Leshem" (BDB 546, cf. Jos. 18:47) and "Lus" in Egyptian texts. It is north of Hazor and north of Kedesh on the eastern side of Jordan. ▣ "living in security" This means in an isolated spot. The closest national power was the Phoenicians (i.e., Sidonians). The people are characterized as: quiet ‒ BDB 1052, KB 1641, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE; this root is used several times in Judges of the land ‒ Jdgs. 3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28; 18:7, 27; Jos. 11:23; 14:15; 2 Chr. 14:1, 5, 6 of a city ‒ 2 Kgs. 11:20; 2 Chr. 23:21 secure ‒ BDB 105, KB 120, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE the VERB can mean "trust," cf. Jdgs. 9:26 the VERB can mean "rely," cf. 2 Kgs. 18:20, 21, 24 the NOUN means "secure," cf. Jdgs. 8:11; 18:7; Deut. 12:10; 33:12, 28; 1 Sam. 12:11; 1 Kgs. 5:4; Ps. 16:9 (sometimes translated in NASB as "unsuspecting") ▣ NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "anyone" "Aram" NJB, REB "Aramaeans" The MT has "adam" (BDB 9), which means "mankind" (i.e., NASB, "anyone"). There is often a confusion between the "d" in Hebrew and the "r." The same textual question is in Jdgs. 18:28. The UBS Text Project, p. 118, gives "anyone" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). ▣ The end of this verse is uncertain. It depends on how one translates "ruler" (UBS Text Project, pp. 116-117, "power-holder"). 18:8 "Zorah and Eshtaol" These are cities west of Jerusalem on the coastal plain in the original allocation given to Dan. 18:9 This is similar to the report of the twelve spies in Numbers 13-14. Here, however, the tribe of Dan responds with confidence that YHWH is with them (Jdgs. 18:6,10). arise ‒ BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal PARTICIPLE let us go up against them ‒ BDB 748, KB 828, Qal IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense do not delay ‒ BDB 782, KB 868, Niphal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense to go ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT to enter ‒ BDB 97, KB 112, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT to possess the land ‒ BDB 439, KB 441, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT 18:10 "a spacious land" The ADJECTIVE (BDB 932) basically means "wide" or "broad." It is not describing a large land but a land of freedom. In Hebrew thought that which is narrow or tight describes difficulties, but that which is broad describes freedom, joy, lack of restraint. ▣ "for God has given it into your hand" This is the message of the five spies based on the Levite's words in Jdgs. 18:6. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth" This is theologically parallel to "it certainly does flow with milk and honey," cf. Num. 13:27. It was an abundantly fertile place (possibly reflecting Deut. 8:9).
Juízes 18:11-13
18:11 "six hundred men" This number of military personnel shows that the entire tribe of Dan was on the move north (cf. Jdgs. 18:21). 18:12 "Mahaneh-dan" This name (BDB 334) means "camp of Dan" and is used in Jdgs. 13:25 to show that the tribe of Dan had not possessed its tribal allocation from Joshua.
Juízes 18:14-20
18:14 Notice the cultic items mentioned (cf. Jdgs. 18:17-18). an ephod ‒ see note at Jdgs. 17:5 teraphim ‒ see note at Jdgs. 17:5 a graven image ‒ see note at Jdgs. 17:4 a molten image ‒ see note at Jdgs. 17:4 18:19-20 Notice the four IMPERATIVES. be silent ‒ BDB 361, KB 357, Hiphil put your hand over your mouth ‒ BDB 962, KB 1321, Qal come with us ‒ BDB 229, KB 246, Qal be a father and a priest ‒ BDB 224, KB 243, Qal The Danite military force of 600 men were saying, "You have no choice! We need a spiritual leader and cultic center for our new home!" Remember, it was this Levite (Jdgs. 18:6) who took this idol with them. The Levite was excited to go!
Juízes 18:21-26
18:21 They expected trouble but in Jdgs. 18:23, they tried to act innocent! The term "little ones" (BDB 381) would denote: children of all ages elderly infirm weak women folk 18:24 Micah is offended by their actions. 18:25 This reflects the attitude, "might is right." Micah is told to be silent, just like the Levite in Jdgs. 18:19. ▣ "you lose your life" This is the Hebrew word nephesh (BDB 659), which denotes the entire person; see full note online at Ezekiel 18:4.
Juízes 18:27-31
18:28 "Beth-rehob" It means "house of open space" (BDB 112, cf. Num. 13:21). This was the most northern area seen by Moses' spies. Its location is unknown (cf. 2 Sam. 10:6). 18:29 The Canaanite city of Laish (or Leshem of Jos. 19:47) becomes the namesake of the tribe—"Dan" (BDB 192; Dan means "judge"). 18:30 "Gershom" Many scholars believe this name (BDB 177) was mentioned earlier in Jdgs. 17:7 (see notes there). This list of ancestors was an attempt to justify or legitimize this northern shrine and its priest, as opposed to sites in the south. The name "Gershom" is first mentioned in Exod. 2:22. ▣ "Manasseh" The original text has "Moses" (UBS Text Project, p. 120, gives it an "A" rating, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB), but the rabbis inserted a "suspended nun" to show their horror at the Levite's actions. The MT even inserted the vowels for Manasseh. The LXX has "Manasseh." The Levite's name was "Jonathan" (BDB 220). ▣ "until the day of the captivity of the land" This is a reference to (1) exile by Tiglath-pileser II in 733 B.C. (cf. 2 Kgs. 15:29) or (2) Sargon II's exile in 722 B.C. This shows that Judges was compiled by an editor, not one eyewitness author. ▣ "the house of God at Shiloh" This dates the book's original production in the time of Samuel (cf. 1 Samuel 1). Shiloh (ABD, vol. 5, pp. 1213-1215) became a central worship site (cf. Jos. 19:51; Jdgs. 21:12-21; 1 Sam. 1:3). It was later abandoned (cf. Ps. 78:60; Jer. 7:12-15; 26:6-9). The priestly line of Eli will be rejected!