1
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them.
2
So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, "Go, search the land." So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
3
While they were at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?"
4
He said to them, "Thus and so Micah did for me. He has hired me, and I have become his priest."
5
So they said to him, "Please inquire of God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous."
6
And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The presence of the Lord be with you on your way."
7
So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone.
8
Then the spies came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, "What is your report?"
9
So they said, "Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land.
10
When you go, you will come to a secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth."
11
And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war.
12
Then they went up and encamped in Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.)
13
And they passed from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14
Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, "Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do."
15
So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man--to the house of Micah--and greeted him.