Israels Judges

Judges 18
Introduction
Last week in chapter 17 we learned that Israel was without a leader and this led to every
man doing what was right in their own eyes. With this back ground the story unfolded
around one particular Israelite, Micah, who had created for himself a craved image and idol
for him to worship. We also watched as he hired his own priest thinking it would place him
in good standing with God.
Moral & spiritual corruption was widespread and in chapter 18 we will see its continuance.
***First, we are reminded
I. There is No King vv. 1 6
In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of
their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the
tribes of Israel. So the Danites sent five warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and
explore it. These men represented all their clans. They told them, "Go, explore the land." The men
entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.
When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in
there and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"
He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest." Then
they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful." The priest
answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD's approval."
Understanding the Word:
1. The writer of Judges wanted its readers to understand that during this bad time in Israels
history that they did not have a _______.
2. This speak to us today because in the absence of a leader people ______________________.
3. We learn that the tribe of Dan does not have its ____________/land in which to dwell.
4. The tribe selects five men to ________________________ in order to find a land for the tribe.
5. As they explored the land they came to ____________ and heard the voice of the ________.
6. How did they recognize his voice? ________________________
7. They asked him what he was doing there and he replied, ____________________________.
8. They then asked him if their journey would be ______________________________.
9. He responded, ________________________________________.
***Second, we see
II. Dan Finds a Land vv. 7 - 10

So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the
Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. Also,
they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else. When they
returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "How did you find things?" They answered,
"Come on, let's attack them! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren't you going to do
something? Don't hesitate to go there and take it over. When you get there, you will find an
unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing
whatever."
Understanding the Word:
1. Where did the five spies find land? ____________
2. How were the Sidonians described? ______________________________________________
3. What was said to have been a serious threat to the Sidonians? ________________________
4. Upon returning home they spies said, ___________________________________________.
5. The spies told the people that this land ________________________.
6. Doubtless, to a people who did not have a home this sounded ________________________.
***Third, we see
III. Dan Goes to Battle vv.11 13
Then six hundred men from the clan of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath
Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan (Dans Camp) to this day. From there they went on to the hill country of
Ephraim and came to Micah's house.
Understanding the Word:
1. How many men, armed for battle, was sent out of the Tribe of Dan? ____________
2. They gathered at _________________ before going on to _________________.
****Fourth, we see
IV. Dan Turns on Its Own vv. 14 26
Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, "Do you know that one
of these houses has an ephod, other household gods, a carved image and a cast idol? Now you
know what to do." So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah's place
and greeted him. The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance to the gate. The
five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the other
household gods and the cast idol while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the
entrance to the gate. When these men went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the
ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
They answered him, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it
better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man's household?" Then

the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went
along with the people. Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them,
they turned away and left. When they had gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who
lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. As they shouted after them, the
Danites turned and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?"
He replied, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can
you ask, 'What's the matter with you?' The Danites answered, "Don't argue with us, or some hottempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives." So the Danites went their
way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home.
Understanding the Word:
1. The five spies told their brethren that Micah had _______, _______, _______, & __________.
2. So they turned ________________________.
3. What did they do there? ________________________________________________________.
4. What did the spies say to the young priest? _______________________________________
5. What does scripture record the priest doing? _______________________________________
6. Upon discovering the craved images, household gods, and idols missing what did Micah
do? ____________________________________________________________________________
7. How did the Danites respond to Micah? ____________________________________________
8. Were told Micah realized he could not resist the great force and _________________.
***Fifth, we see
V. Dan Attack the Sidonians vv. 27 29
Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and
unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. There was no
one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone
else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. They
named it Dan after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel--though the city used to be called
Laish.
Understanding the Word:
1. How were the people of Laish described? ________________________
2. The armed men of Dan _________________________________________.
3. Because of their isolation the people of Laish had no one to _________________.
4. Were told the people of Dan rebuilt the city and ________________________.
5. The city was renamed ____________ for their forefather.

***Sixth, we see
VI. Dans Own Corruption vv. 30 31
There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses,
and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued
to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.
Understanding the Word:
1. What do we find the people of Dan doing? ______________________________
2. Who is their spiritual leader? ______________________________
3. How long did they minister as priest? ______________________________
4. What continued to exist in Shiloh? ____________________________________________.
5. This is a striking parallel to America. We have Churches that worship God, yet people
continue to pursue their own way, do their own thing, live their own life, and worship their own
gods (although their gods may not be idols and craved images).
Closing Thoughts:
1. Without a leader the people perished spiritually. Without leaders today the people continue
to perish spiritually and seek their own way.
2. Dan attacked a helpless people and stole from them as well as from their own brethren,
Micah. When people get away from God they have no moral guidelines to keep them from
total decay. Dans wickedness in killing innocent people and stealing from their own
countryman and then worshipping false gods is a clear sign of this.
3. Both chapters, 17:6 & 18:1 state, There was no king in those days, no leader to guide the
people and press them to right actions and continued faith in God. The church needs leaders
to guide the body and to press them to continued faith in God.
Pray