Monday, October 15, 2007

Judges 18


Migration of the Danites
In order to enlarge their borders, the Danites overtake Laish. The 5 recon men know about Micah and the Levite and the idols, so they go to take them. They destroy Laish and name it after Dan. They maintain the carved idol Micah had made as long as the house of God was in Shiloh.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Danites settle in new area

The Danites had never settled in an area to call home. They sent 5 warriors out to explore and find a homeland. These 5 happened to pass Micah's house and spent the night there because they recognized his new Levite priest. The explorers finally found a town called Laish which was isolated, not well defended, and lacked for nothing.
They returned with this report and the Danites sent 600 men to overtake Laish. When this small army came to Micah's house they too the Levite priest and all the idols. They asked the priest if he'd rather be priest to a whole tribe rather than one man to which he agreed. Micah's neighbors got together to take back the idols and priest. The army asked Micah why he is trying to attack them. Michah said," You took the gods I made and my priest. What else to I have?" Notes remind us that this cry of desparation is of someone whose faith is in idols and possessions; without them, he feel all is lost. A faith based on a true spiritual relationship with God yeilds a disconnection with earthly things and issues. God and the Holy Spirit are ALWAYS with the believer.
The army told him that "someone may loose their temper and kill him and his family" so Micah went back home.
They did overtake Laish and made it their home and set up a "house of God" where they used the idols and Levite priest.

Notes indicate that Laish was 100 miles north of Zorah and Estaol (where the Danites began this journey). After they overtook it, they renamed it Dan and it was the northernmost Israelite settlement.