1 In those days there was not a king in Israel, and the tribe of Dan sought possession for it-self, that it might dwell therein: for until that day it had not received a lot among the other tribes.
1 In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of Dan sought them an inheritance to dwell in: for unto that day they had not received their lot among the other tribes.
2 Therefore the children of Dan sent five men of their stock and family most valiant from Saraa and Esthaol, that they might view the land, and diligently behold it, and they said to them: Go, and consider the land. Who going forward when they were come into mount Ephraim, and had entered into the house of Michas, they rested there:
2 So the children of Dan sent five most valiant men, of their stock and family, from Saraa and Esthaol, to spy out the land, and to view it diligently: and they said to them: Go, and view the land. They went on their way, and when they came to mount Ephraim, they went into the house of Michas, and rested there:
3 and knowing the voice of the young man the Levite, and using his lodging, they said to him: Who brought thee hither? What doest thou here? For what cause wouldest thou come hither?
3 And knowing the voice of the young man the Levite, and lodging with him, they said to him: Who brought thee hither? What dost thou here? Why wouldst thou come hither?
4 Who answered them: These, and these things hath Michas done to me, & hath hired me for wages to be his Priest.
4 He answered them: Michas hath done such and such things for me, and hath hired me to be his priest.
5 And they desired him that he would consult the Lord, that they might know whether they should go on a prosperous journey, and the thing should have effect.
5 Then they desired him to consult the Lord, that they might know whether their journey should be prosperous, and the thing should have effect.
6 Who answered them: Go in peace: The Lord regardeth your way, and the journey that you go.
6 He answered them: Go in peace: the Lord looketh on your way, and the journey that you go.
7 The five men therefore going came to Lais, & they saw the people dwelling in it without any fear, according to the custom of the Sidonians, secure and quiet, no man at all resisting them, & of great riches, & separated far from Sidon & from all men.
7 So the five men going on came to Lais: and they saw how the people dwelt therein without any fear, according to the custom of the Sidonians, secure and easy, having no man at all to oppose them, being very rich, and living separated, at a distance from Sidon and from all men.
8 And returning to their brethren in Saraa & Esthaol, and asking what they had done, they answered them:
8 And they returned to their brethren in Saraa and Esthaol, who asked them what they had done: to whom they answered:
9 Arise, & let us go up to them: for we have seen the Land exceeding rich & plentiful: neglect not, slack not: let us go, & possess it, it will be no labour.
9 Arise, and let us go up to them: for we have seen the land which is exceeding rich and fruitful: neglect not, lose no time: let us go and possess it, there will be no difficulty.
10 We shall enter unto them being secure, into a most large country, & our Lord will deliver to us the place, wherein is penury of nothing of those things that grow on the earth.
10 We shall come to a people that is secure, into a spacious country, and the Lord will deliver the place to us, in which there is no want of anything that groweth on the earth.
11 There departed therefore from the kindred of Dan, that is to say, from Saraa and Esthaol six hundred men, furnished with warlike armour,
11 There went therefore of the kindred of Dan, to wit, from Saraa and Esthaol, six hundred men, furnished with arms for war.
12 and going up they tarried in Cariathiarim of Juda: which place from that time took the name of the Tents of Dan, and it is at the back of Cariathiarim:
12 And going up they lodged in Cariathiarim of Juda: which place from that time is called the camp of Dan, and is behind Cariathiarim.
13 Thence they passed into mount Ephraim. And when they were come to the house of Michas,
13 From thence they passed into mount Ephraim. And when they were come to the house of Michas,
14 the five men, that before had been sent to view the Land of Lais, said to the rest of their brethren: You know that in these houses there is an Ephod, and Theraphim, and a graven, and molten god: See what pleaseth you.
14 The five men, that before had been sent to view the land of Lais, said to the rest of their brethren: You know that in these houses there is an ephod and theraphim, and a graven and a molten god: see what you are pleased to do.
15 And when they had turned a little aside, they entered into the house of the young man the Levite, which was in the house of Michas: and saluted him with peaceable words.
15 And when they had turned a little aside, they went into the house of the young man the Levite, who was in the house of Michas: and they saluted him with words of peace.
16 And the six hundred men so as they were armed, stood before the door.
16 And the six hundred men stood before the door, appointed with their arms.
17 But they, that were entered the house of the young man, endeavoured to take away the graven, the Ephod, and the idols, and molten god, and the priest stood before the door, the six hundred most valiant men expecting not far off.
17 But they that were gone into the house of the young man, went about to take away the graven god, and the ephod, and the theraphim, and the molten god, and the priest stood before the door, the six hundred valiant men waiting not far off.
18 They therefore that were entered took the graven, the Ephod, the theraphim and molten god. To whom the priest said: What do you?
18 So they that were gone in took away the graven thing, the ephod, and the idols, and the molten god. And the priest said to them: What are you doing?
19 To whom they answered: Hold thy peace, and put thy finger upon thy mouth and come with us, that we may have thee for a father, and a Priest. Whether is better for thee, that thou be a Priest in the house of one man, or in one tribe and family in Israel?
19 And they said to him: Hold thy peace, and put thy finger on thy mouth, and come with us, that we may have thee for a father, and a priest. Whether is better for thee, to be a priest in the house of one man, or in a tribe and family in Israel?
20 Which when he had heard, he agreed to their words, and took the Ephod, and idols, and graven god, & departed with them.
20 When he heard this, he agreed to their words, and took the ephod, and the idols, and the graven god, and departed with them.
21 Who when they went forward, & had made the children and the cattle to go before them, and all that was precious,
21 And when they were going forward, and had put before them the children and the cattle, and all that was valuable,
22 and were now far from the house of Michas, the men that dwelt in the house of Michas crying out together followed,
22 And were now at a distance from the house of Michas, the men that dwelt in the houses of Michas gathering together followed them,
23 and at their back began to shout. Who looking back, said to Michas: What meanest thou? Why dost thou cry?
23 And began to shout out after them. They looked back, and said to Michas: What aileth thee? Why dost thou cry?
24 Who answered: My gods, which I made me, you have taken away, & the Priest, and all that I have, and do you say: What aileth thee?
24 And he answered: You have taken away my gods which I have made me, and the priest, and all that I have, and do you say: What aileth thee?
25 And the children of Dan said to him: Beware thou speak no more unto us, and there come unto thee men provoked in mind, and thou with all thy house perish.
25 And the children of Dan said to him: See thou say no more to us, lest men enraged come upon thee, and thou perish with all thy house.
26 And so they went on their journey begun. But Michas seeing that they were stronger than he, returned into his house.
26 And so they went on the journey they had begun. But Michas seeing that they were stronger than he, returned to his house.
27 And the six hundred men took the Priest, and the things which we spake of before, and came into Lais to a people that was quiet and secure, and struck them in the edge of the sword: and the city they delivered to fire,
27 And the six hundred men took the priest, and the things we spoke of before, and came to Lais, to a people that was quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword: and the city they burnt w ith fire,
28 no man at all bringing them succour, for that they dwelt far from Sidon, and had with no men any society and affairs. And the city was situated in the country of Rohob: which building again they dwelt in it,
28 There being no man at all who brought them any succor, because they dwelt far from Sidon, and had no society or business with any man. And the city was in the land of Rohob: and they rebuilt it, and dwelt therein,
29 calling the name of the city Dan, according to the name of their father, whom Israel had begotten, which before was called Lais.
29 Calling the name of the city Dan, after the name of their father, who was the son of Israel, which before was called Lais.
30 And they set up to themselves the graven idol, and Jonathan the son of Gersam the son of Moyses, and his sons Priests in the tribe of Dan, until the day of their captivity.
30 And they set up to themselves the graven idol, and Jonathan the son of Gersam the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests in the tribe of Dan, until the day of their captivity.
31 And the idol of Michas remained with them all the time that the house of God was in Silo. In those days there was not a king in Israel.
31 And the idol of Michas remained with them all the time that the house of God was in Silo. In those days there was no king in Israel.