Judges 18:1

¶ 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.

In those days {H3117} there was no king {H4428} in Israel {H3478}: and in those days {H3117} the tribe {H7626} of the Danites {H1839} sought {H1245} them an inheritance {H5159} to dwell in {H3427}; for unto that day {H3117} all their inheritance {H5159} had not fallen {H5307} unto them among {H8432} the tribes {H7626} of Israel {H3478}.

At that time there was no king in Isra'el, and it was also at that time that the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to claim ownership of and settle in, since they had not yet been given any land of their own among the tribes of Isra'el.

In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites was looking for territory to occupy. For up to that time they had not come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

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 their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

Commentary

Context

Judges 18:1 opens a significant narrative within the Book of Judges, a period in Israel's history characterized by spiritual decline and political disunity following the death of Joshua. The recurring phrase, "In those days there was no king in Israel," is a crucial refrain throughout the latter chapters of Judges (Judges 17:6, Judges 19:1, Judges 21:25), highlighting the absence of a central, unifying authority and the resultant moral decay where "every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

This verse specifically sets the stage for the migration of the tribe of Dan. Their original inheritance, detailed in Joshua 19:40-48, was located in a fertile but strategically challenging area, bordering the Philistines. Due to their failure to fully dispossess the inhabitants (Judges 1:34) and perhaps pressure from surrounding peoples, they had not fully secured their allotted land. This forced them to seek a new territory, leading to the events described in the subsequent verses.

Key Themes

  • Absence of Authority and Anarchy: The declaration that "there was no king in Israel" underscores a fundamental problem of leadership and governance. This vacuum led to a breakdown of law and order, allowing individual tribes and even families to act independently, often with disastrous consequences, as seen in the Danites' actions.
  • Unfulfilled Inheritance and Disobedience: The Danites' struggle to possess their land points to the Israelites' incomplete obedience to God's command to drive out the Canaanites. This failure to fully claim their inheritance, given by God, resulted in ongoing conflict and instability.
  • Human Initiative vs. Divine Guidance: The Danites' decision to seek a new inheritance, while understandable from a practical standpoint, illustrates a reliance on human strategy rather than seeking divine direction for their settlement and security.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "no king in Israel" (Hebrew: 'ên melek bĕyiśrā'ēl) is more than a simple historical note; it serves as a theological commentary on the state of the nation. It implies a lack of spiritual and moral leadership, not just political. This absence of a divinely appointed human king foreshadows the later cry for a king in 1 Samuel, but also points to the ultimate need for God Himself to rule as King over His people.

Practical Application

Judges 18:1 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  1. The Importance of Righteous Leadership: The chaos of the Judges period highlights the critical need for godly leadership, whether in the church, community, or family. When there is no clear and righteous authority, individuals and groups can drift into spiritual and moral compromise.
  2. Claiming God's Promises: The Danites' failure to fully occupy their inheritance reminds us to actively claim and live out the spiritual inheritance God has given us in Christ. Incomplete obedience or succumbing to worldly pressures can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's blessings and purpose for our lives.
  3. Beware of "Doing What is Right in Your Own Eyes": The underlying issue of the Judges era was that people abandoned God's law and did what seemed right to them. This serves as a warning against moral relativism and the dangers of acting solely on personal judgment without adherence to God's revealed will.
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Cross-References

  • Judges 17:6 (7 votes)

    In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.

  • Judges 19:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass in those days, when [there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

  • Judges 1:34 (6 votes)

    And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

  • Joshua 19:40 (5 votes)

    ¶ [And] the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.

  • Joshua 19:48 (5 votes)

    This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

  • Judges 21:25 (5 votes)

    In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.