7. So the five men left. They came to the city of Laish. They saw that the people there lived in safety. They were like the people of Sidon. They lived in peace and were not afraid of others. They had plenty of everything. They lived a long way from the Sidonians. And they had no dealings with anyone else.
8. The five men went back to Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, “What did you find?”
9. They answered, “We have seen the land. And it is very good. We should attack them. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t wait! Let’s go and take that land!
10. When you go, you will see there is plenty of land. There is plenty of everything! The people are not expecting an attack. Surely God has given that land to us!”
11. So 600 men of Dan left Zorah and Eshtaol. They were ready for war.
12. On their way they stopped near the city of Kiriath Jearim in Judah. They set up camp there. That is why the place is named Mahaneh Dan to this very day. It is west of Kiriath Jearim.
13. From there they traveled on to the mountains of Ephraim. Then they came to Micah’s house.
14. So the five men who had explored the land around Laish spoke. They said to their relatives, “There is a vest for a priest in one of these houses. And there are household gods in these houses. There are also a carved idol and an idol of melted silver in these houses. You know what to do.”
15. So they stopped at the Levite’s house. This was also Micah’s house. And they greeted the Levite.
16. The 600 men of Dan stood at the gate entrance. They wore their weapons of war.
17. The five spies went into the house. They took the carved idol, the vest for a priest, the household idols and the silver idol. The priest and the 600 men ready for war stood by the gate entrance.
18. When the spies went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the vest for a priest, the household idols and the silver idol, the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”
19. They answered, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us. Be our father and our priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for the people in one man’s house? Or is it better for you to be a priest for a tribe and family group in Israel?”
20. This made the Levite happy. So he took the vest for a priest, the household idols and the carved idol. And he went with the men of Dan.
21. They left Micah’s house. They put their little children, their animals and everything they owned in front of them.
22. The men of Dan went a long way from Micah’s house. Then the men who lived near Micah were called out. They chased the men of Dan and caught up with them.
23. The men with Micah shouted at the men of Dan. The men of Dan turned around. They said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you? Why have you called out your men to fight?”
24. Micah answered, “You took my idols! I made those idols. You have also taken my priest. What do I have left? How can you ask me, ‘What’s the matter?’”
25. The men of Dan answered, “You should not argue with us. Some of our men have hot tempers. If you shout at us, they might attack you. You and your family might be killed.”
26. Then the men of Dan went on their way. Micah knew they were too strong for him. So he turned and went back home.