Judges 18:10

When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where [there is] no want of any thing that [is] in the earth.

When ye go {H935}, ye shall come {H935} unto a people {H5971} secure {H982}, and to a large {H7342} land {H776}: for God {H430} hath given {H5414} it into your hands {H3027}; a place {H4725} where there is no want {H4270} of any thing {H1697} that is in the earth {H776}.

When you go, you will come to a people who feel safe. There's plenty of land, the place lacks nothing, it has everything there is on earth, and God has given it to you."

When you enter, you will come to an unsuspecting people and a spacious land, for God has delivered it into your hand. It is a place where nothing on earth is lacking.โ€

When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and the land is large; for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.

Commentary

Judges 18:10 captures the enticing report of the five Danite spies to their tribe, promising an ideal new land for their inheritance. Facing difficulties in securing their original tribal territory, the Danites sought a new place to settle. This verse summarizes the spies' findings, portraying Laish (later renamed Dan) as a fertile, abundant, and seemingly undefended land, presented as a divine gift.

Context

The book of Judges details a turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. The tribe of Dan, unlike many other tribes, struggled significantly to dispossess the inhabitants of their allotted territory in the central coastal plain (Judges 1:34-35). This led them to seek a new, easier inheritance. Chapter 18 describes their expedition: five spies are sent north, where they encounter a Levite priest serving in Micah's private idolatrous shrine. The spies consult this priest, and he gives them a favorable prognosis for their journey, which they interpret as a divine endorsement. Verse 10 is their enthusiastic report back to the rest of the tribe, painting a picture of effortless conquest and abundant prosperity.

Key Themes

  • The Quest for Inheritance: The Danites' journey highlights the challenges faced by the tribes in fully possessing the land promised by God. Their decision to abandon their initial inheritance for an easier conquest reveals a lack of faith and perseverance compared to the ideal of obedience.
  • Perceived Divine Mandate: The phrase "for God hath given it into your hands" is presented as a crucial justification for the Danites' actions. However, this "divine" assurance comes not from a prophet or direct revelation from Yahweh, but from a Levite priest who had already compromised his integrity by serving an idolatrous household. This raises questions about the legitimacy and true source of their confidence, foreshadowing the subsequent establishment of idolatry in Dan.
  • A Land of Abundance: The description of Laish as "a large land" and "a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth" paints it as a highly desirable territory. This echoes the biblical descriptions of the Promised Land as a place of blessing and provision, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:9. However, the Danites' pursuit of this abundance is tainted by their spiritual compromises.
  • Vulnerability of the "Secure": The inhabitants of Laish are described as "a people secure." The Hebrew word for "secure," betach, implies confidence, trust, or safety. In this context, it suggests complacency, isolation, and a lack of preparedness, making them easy targets for the invading Danites. Their false sense of security ultimately led to their downfall.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "secure" in "a people secure" is the Hebrew betach (ื‘ึถึผื˜ึทื—). While often meaning trust or confidence (e.g., in God), here it implies a state of being unsuspecting, isolated, and therefore vulnerable. They lived "after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure" (Judges 18:7), indicating a people without alliances or a strong defensive posture. The phrase "no want of any thing" comes from the Hebrew machsor (ืžึทื—ึฐืกื•ึนืจ), meaning lack or deficiency, emphasizing the complete abundance of the land.

Practical Application

Judges 18:10 serves as a cautionary tale. It reminds us that:

  • Beware of Self-Justified Actions: We must be careful not to attribute our desires or opportunistic ventures to divine will, especially when "assurance" comes from questionable sources or contradicts God's established principles. True divine guidance aligns with God's character and revealed word.
  • The Danger of Complacency: Just as the people of Laish were vulnerable due to their "security," spiritual complacency can leave individuals or communities unprepared for challenges, making them susceptible to spiritual attack or compromise. The Bible warns against the security of fools.
  • Prioritize Spiritual Integrity Over Material Ease: The Danites sought an easier path and a more abundant land, but their pursuit led them to abandon their spiritual heritage and establish a center of idolatry. This highlights the importance of spiritual faithfulness over the pursuit of comfort or material gain.

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Cross-References

  • Judges 18:27 (4 votes)

    ยถ And they took [the things] which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people [that were] at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

  • Judges 18:7 (3 votes)

    ยถ Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that [were] therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and [there was] no magistrate in the land, that might put [them] to shame in [any] thing; and they [were] far from the Zidonians, and had no business with [any] man.

  • Deuteronomy 4:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do [them], that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

  • Joshua 6:16 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

  • Deuteronomy 2:29 (2 votes)

    (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.

  • 1 Timothy 6:17 (2 votes)

    Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

  • Ezekiel 20:6 (2 votes)

    In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands: