Judges 18:17

And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, [and] came in thither, [and] took the graven image, 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.

And the five {H2568} men {H582} that went {H1980} to spy out {H7270} the land {H776} went up {H5927}, and came in {H935} thither, and took {H3947} the graven image {H6459}, and the ephod {H646}, and the teraphim {H8655}, and the molten image {H4541}: and the priest {H3548} stood {H5324} in the entering {H6607} of the gate {H8179} with the six {H8337} hundred {H3967} men {H376} that were appointed {H2296} with weapons {H3627} of war {H4421}.

while the five who had spied out the land went in and took the idol overlaid with silver, the vest and the household gods. The cohen had stayed with the 600 soldiers by the gate.

And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the graven image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molten idol, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred armed men.

And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

Commentary

Judges 18:17 is a pivotal moment in the Danites' quest for a new homeland, highlighting the spiritual and moral decay prevalent in Israel during the period of the Judges. This verse describes the audacious act of the five Danite spies, who had earlier scouted the land, now returning to forcefully seize the idolatrous objects from Micah's shrine.

Context

The tribe of Dan, having failed to fully secure their inherited territory in the south (Judges 1:34), embarks on a mission to find new land. Their journey leads them to the Ephraimite hills, where they encounter a Levite priest serving in the private idolatrous household of Micah (Judges 17:5). The five spies, sent ahead to explore the region of Laish, recognized the priest and the peculiar assortment of cultic items. This verse marks their return to Micah's house, not to worship, but to plunder these religious artifacts, intending to establish their own religious center in their new territory. The presence of the 600 armed Danite men outside signifies the overwhelming force backing this act of theft and coercion, ensuring no resistance from Micah or his household.

Key Themes

  • Rampant Idolatry and Syncretism: The verse explicitly lists the objects taken: a graven image, an ephod, teraphim, and a molten image. This collection represents a blend of forbidden pagan practices and misused elements of legitimate Israelite worship, illustrating how deeply idolatry had permeated Israelite society. The Danites, rather than destroying these idols as commanded by God (Deuteronomy 12:2), simply appropriate them for their own use.
  • Moral and Spiritual Decline: This act of theft and the subsequent kidnapping of the priest (Judges 18:19) vividly portrays the "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" mentality that defines the era of Judges (Judges 21:25). There was no central authority to enforce God's law or uphold justice.
  • Self-Serving Religion: The Danites' actions reveal a pragmatic, rather than pious, approach to religion. They desired a priest and religious artifacts not out of devotion to Yahweh, but to legitimize their new settlement and ensure divine favor for their conquest, regardless of the objects' illicit origins.

Linguistic Insights

The specific items mentioned offer insight into the nature of Micah's idolatry and the broader religious landscape:

  • Graven image (׀בל, pesel) and molten image (ΧžΧ‘Χ›Χ”, massekah): These terms refer to carved and cast idols, respectively, directly violating the second commandment against making images for worship (Exodus 20:4).
  • Ephod (א׀וד, ephod): While a legitimate garment for the high priest, here it likely refers to a cultic image or an object used for divination, stripped of its true sacred purpose. Its inclusion suggests a corrupt attempt to mimic Yahweh worship.
  • Teraphim (Χͺר׀ים, teraphim): These were household idols, often associated with divination or as symbols of family ownership/inheritance. Their presence further underscores the syncretistic practices common among some Israelites.

Practical Application

Judges 18:17 serves as a powerful warning against spiritual compromise and self-serving religion. It reminds us of the dangers of:

  • Syncretism: Mixing genuine faith with worldly or forbidden practices. True worship requires exclusive devotion to God alone.
  • Relativism: When "every man does what is right in his own eyes," chaos and moral decay inevitably follow. God's unchanging standards provide stability and truth.
  • Instrumentalizing Faith: Using religious objects or practices for personal gain or convenience rather than out of sincere reverence and obedience to God's revealed will.

This passage calls believers to uphold biblical truth, reject all forms of idolatry, and seek genuine obedience to God's commands, rather than adapting faith to suit personal desires.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 18:14

    ΒΆ 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.

  • Judges 17:4

    Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred [shekels] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

  • Judges 17:5

    And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

  • Judges 18:2

    And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

  • 1 Samuel 6:2

    And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

  • 1 Samuel 6:9

    And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us.

  • 2 Kings 19:18

    And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
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