2. So the tribe of Dan sent five soldiers to look for some land. They went to search for a good place to live. These five men were from the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. They were chosen because they were from all the families of Dan. They were told, “Go, look for some land.” The five men came to the hill country of Ephraim. They came to Micah’s house and spent the night there.
3. When the five men came close to Micah’s house, they heard the voice of the young Levite. They recognized his voice, so they stopped at Micah’s house. They asked the young man, “Who brought you to this place? What are you doing? Why are you here?”
4. The young man told them what Micah had done for him. “Micah hired me,” he said. “I am his priest.”
5. So they said to him, “Please ask God if our search for a place to live will be successful.”
6. The priest said to the five men, “Yes. Go in peace. The Lord will lead you on your way.”
7. So the five men left. They came to the city of Laish and saw that the people of that city lived in safety. They were ruled by the people of Sidon. Everything was peaceful and quiet. The people had plenty of everything, and they didn’t have any enemies nearby to hurt them. Also they lived a long way from the city of Sidon, and they did not have any agreements with the people of Aram.
8. The five men went back to the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, “What did you learn?”
9. The five men answered, “We have found some land, and it is very good. We should attack them. Don’t wait! Let’s go and take that land!
17-18. The five spies went into the house. The priest stood just outside by the gate with the 600 men who were ready for war. The men took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol. The young Levite priest said, “What are you doing?”
19. The five men answered, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us. Be our father and our priest. You must choose. Is it better for you to be a priest for just one man or for a whole tribe of Israelites with many family groups?”
20. This made the Levite happy. So he took the ephod, the household idols, and the idol. He went with the men from the tribe of Dan.
21. Then the 600 men from the tribe of Dan and the Levite priest turned and left Micah’s house. They put their little children, their animals, and all their things in front of them.
22. The men from the tribe of Dan went a long way from that place. But the people living near Micah met together. Then they began chasing the men of Dan and caught up with them.
23. The men with Micah were shouting at the men of Dan. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What’s the problem? Why are you shouting?”
24. Micah answered, “You men from Dan took my idols. I made them for myself. You have also taken my priest. What do I have left now? How can you ask me, ‘What’s the problem?’”