Judges 18 – NIV & NEN

New International Version

Judges 18:1-31

The Danites Settle in Laish

1In 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. 2So the Danites sent five of their leading men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”

So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night. 3When 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?”

4He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, “He has hired me and I am his priest.”

5Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.”

6The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.”

7So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous.18:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain. Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else.18:7 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts with the Arameans

8When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellow Danites asked them, “How did you find things?”

9They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over. 10When 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.”

11Then six hundred men of the Danites, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan18:12 Mahaneh Dan means Dan’s camp. to this day. 13From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.

14Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their fellow Danites, “Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, some household gods and an image overlaid with silver? Now you know what to do.” 15So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him. 16The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate. 17The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance of the gate.

18When the five men went into Micah’s house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

19They 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?” 20The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people. 21Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.

22When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. 23As 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?”

24He 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?’ ”

25The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” 26So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home.

27Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. 28There 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. 29They named it Dan after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish. 30There the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses,18:30 Many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; many other Hebrew manuscripts and some other Septuagint manuscripts Manasseh and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. 31They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.

Kiswahili Contemporary Version (Neno: Bibilia Takatifu)

Waamuzi 18:1-31

Wadani Wahamia Laishi

118:1 Amu 17:6; Yos 19:47; Amu 1:34Katika siku hizo Israeli walikuwa hawana mfalme.

Katika siku hizo kabila la Wadani walikuwa wanatafuta mahali pao wenyewe pa kuishi, kwa sababu walikuwa hawajafika kwenye urithi wao miongoni mwa makabila ya Israeli. 218:2 Mwa 30:6; Hes 21:32; Yos 2:1; Amu 17:1Hivyo Wadani wakatuma mashujaa watano kutoka Sora na Eshtaoli ili kupeleleza nchi na kuichunguza. Hawa watu waliwakilisha koo zao zote. Waliwaambia, “Nendeni mkaichunguze hiyo nchi.”

Watu hao wakaingia katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu, nao wakafika nyumba ya Mika, ambako walilala usiku huo. 318:3 Amu 17:7Walipofika karibu na nyumba ya Mika, waliitambua sauti ya yule kijana Mlawi; hivyo wakaingia humo na kumuuliza, “Ni nani aliyekuleta hapa? Unafanya nini mahali hapa? Kwa nini uko hapa?”

418:4 Amu 17:12Akawaeleza yale Mika aliyomtendea, naye akasema, “Ameniajiri nami ni kuhani wake.”

518:5 Mwa 25:22; Amu 20:18, 23, 27; 1Sam 14:18; 2Sam 5:19; 2Fal 1:2; 8:8Kisha wakamwambia, “Tafadhali tuulizie kwa Mungu kama safari yetu itafanikiwa.”

618:6 1Fal 22:6Yule kuhani akawajibu, “Enendeni kwa amani. Safari yenu ina kibali cha Bwana.”

718:7 Yos 19:47; Mwa 34:25; Yos 11:8Basi hao watu watano wakaondoka na kufika Laishi, mahali ambapo waliwakuta watu wanaishi salama, kama Wasidoni, kwa utulivu na bila mashaka. Nchi yao haikupungukiwa na kitu chochote, hivyo wakawa tajiri. Pia walikaa mbali sana na Wasidoni, wala hawakushughulika na mtu yeyote.

8Waliporudi kwa ndugu zao huko Sora na Eshtaoli, ndugu zao wakawauliza, “Mlionaje mambo huko?”

918:9 Hes 13:30; 1Fal 22:3Wakajibu, “Twendeni, tukapigane nao! Tumeona kuwa nchi ni nzuri sana. Je, hamtafanya chochote? Msisite kupanda ili kuimiliki. 1018:10 Kum 8:9; 1Nya 4:40Mtakapokwenda huko mtakuta watu waliotulia walio salama, nayo nchi hiyo ni kubwa na Mungu ameitia mikononi mwenu, nayo ni nchi ambayo haikupungukiwa na kitu chochote kilicho duniani.”

1118:11 Amu 13:2Ndipo watu 600 toka ukoo wa Wadani, waliojifunga silaha za vita, wakaondoka Sora na Eshtaoli. 1218:12 Yos 9:17; Amu 13:25Walipokuwa wakisafiri wakapiga kambi huko Kiriath-Yearimu katika Yuda. Hii ndiyo sababu sehemu ya magharibi ya Kiriath-Yearimu inaitwa Mahane-Dani18:12 Mahane-Dani maana yake Kambi ya Dani. mpaka leo. 1318:13 Amu 17:6Kutoka hapo wakaendelea mbele mpaka nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu na kufika katika nyumba ya Mika.

1418:14 Yos 19:47; Amu 8:27; Mwa 31:19; Amu 17:5Ndipo wale watu watano waliopeleleza nchi ya Laishi wakawaambia ndugu zao, “Je, mwajua kuwa mojawapo ya nyumba hizi kuna naivera, sanamu ndogo za nyumbani, sanamu ya kuchonga na sanamu ya kusubu? Sasa basi fikirini mtakalofanya.” 15Basi wakaingia humo na kwenda kwenye nyumba ya yule kijana Mlawi katika nyumba ya Mika na kumsalimu. 16Wale Wadani 600, waliovaa silaha za vita, wakasimama penye ingilio la lango. 1718:17 Mwa 31:19; Mik 5:13Wale watu watano waliokwenda kupeleleza nchi wakaingia ndani na kuchukua ile sanamu ya kuchonga, ile naivera, na zile sanamu nyingine ndogo za nyumbani pamoja na ile sanamu ya kusubu, wakati yule kuhani akiwa amesimama pale penye ingilio la lango pamoja na wale watu 600 waliokuwa wamejifunga silaha za vita.

1818:18 Isa 46:2; Yer 43:11; 48:7; 49:3; Hos 10:5; Mwa 31:19Hao watu walipoingia katika nyumba ya Mika na kuchukua ile sanamu ya kuchonga, ile naivera, na zile sanamu nyingine ndogo za nyumbani, pamoja na ile sanamu ya kusubu, yule kuhani akawauliza, “Mnafanya nini?”

1918:19 Ay 13:5; 21:5; 29:9; 40:4; Isa 52:15; Mik 7:16; Amu 17:10; Hes 26:42Wakamjibu, “Nyamaza kimya! Weka mkono wako juu ya kinywa chako na ufuatane nasi, uwe baba yetu na kuhani wetu. Si ni afadhali utumikie kabila na ukoo katika Israeli kama kuhani kuliko kumtumikia mtu mmoja na watu wa nyumbani mwake?” 20Yule kuhani akafurahi. Akachukua ile naivera, zile sanamu nyingine ndogo za nyumbani, na sanamu ya kuchonga, naye akaenda pamoja na wale watu. 21Ndipo wakageuka na kuondoka wakiwatanguliza mbele watoto wao wadogo, wanyama wao wa kufugwa na mali zao.

22Walipokuwa wamesafiri umbali kidogo toka nyumbani kwa Mika, watu walioishi karibu na Mika wakaitwa wakakusanyika pamoja, nao wakawafikia Wadani. 23Walipofuatilia wakipiga kelele Wadani wakawageukia na kumwambia Mika, “Una nini wewe hata ukaja na kundi la watu namna hii ili kupigana?”

24Akawajibu, “Mmechukua miungu yote niliyoitengeneza, mkachukua na kuhani wangu, nanyi mkaondoka. Nimebaki na nini kingine? Mnawezaje kuniuliza, ‘Una nini wewe?’ ”

25Wadani wakamjibu, “Usibishane na sisi, la sivyo watu wenye hasira kali watakushambulia, nawe na watu wa nyumbani mwako mtapoteza maisha.” 2618:26 2Sam 3:39; Za 18:17; 35:10Basi Wadani wakaenda zao, naye Mika alipoona kuwa wana nguvu kumliko yeye, akageuka na kurudi nyumbani kwake.

2718:27 Mwa 34:25; Hes 31:10; Mwa 49:17; Yos 19:47Kisha wakachukua vile Mika alivyokuwa ametengeneza, na kuhani wake, wakaendelea hadi Laishi, dhidi ya watu walio na amani, wasiokuwa na wasiwasi. Wakawashambulia kwa upanga na kuuteketeza mji wao kwa moto. 28Hapakuwa na yeyote wa kuwaokoa, kwa kuwa kulikuwa mbali sana na Sidoni na hawakuwa na ushirikiano na mtu mwingine yeyote. Mji ulikuwa kwenye bonde karibu na Beth-Rehobu.

Wadani wakaujenga upya huo mji na kuishi humo. 29Wakauita ule mji Dani kwa kufuata jina la baba yao aliyezaliwa na Israeli, ingawa mji huo ulikuwa ukiitwa Laishi hapo kwanza. 3018:30 Kut 2:22; Amu 17:3-5Kisha Wadani wakajisimamishia sanamu ile ya kuchonga, naye Yonathani mwana wa Gershomu, mwana wa Mose pamoja na wanawe walikuwa makuhani wa kabila la Wadani mpaka nchi hiyo ilipotekwa. 3118:31 Amu 19:18; 20:18; Yos 18:1; Yer 7:14Wakaisimamisha na kuiabudu hiyo sanamu ya kuchonga ya Mika aliyokuwa ameitengeneza, wakati wote ule nyumba ya Mungu ilipokuwa huko Shilo.