thitherward, and came to the house, or apartments, of the young man the Levite, [even] unto the house of Micah, and 16 saluted him. And the six hundred men appointed with their

weapons of war, which [were] of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate; and the Levite came out, and sa17 luted them, and wished them success. And, while the Levite was paying his respects to them, the five men that went to spy out the land went up to the chapel, [and] came in thither, [and] took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men [that 18 were] appointed with weapons of war. And these went into Micah's house and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? He expostulated with them for the sacrilege, as it was an injury to himself, 19 spoiled his trade and craft, whereby he got his wealth. And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: [is it] better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? Better be chaplain to a regiment, than a private gentleman; better be friest to a city, than to a single house and this ambitious, covetous man was easily influenced. 20 And the priest's heart was glad of such encouragement, and he took the ephod and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people, the better to secure his trinkets, or in an apish imitation of the manner in which the ark was 21 carried. So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them; being exposed to more danger from Micah in the rear, than from the Amorites in the front.

22

[And] when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that [were] in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan; finding his chapel robbed, and his chaplain had outrun him, he gathered his neighbours together, and after some time overtook 23 the robbers; And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? that thou art 24 gathered together in this hostile manner? And he said, ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: (fine gods that could be stolen !) and what have I more? and what [is] this [that] ye say unto me, What aileth thee? Strange that ye should ask me what is the matter, when ye have taken from me what I valued above all 25 the world. And the children of Dan gave him a right soldier's answer; and said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among

us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, 26 with the lives of thy household. And the children of Dan went their way, turned from him in scorn. And when Micah saw that they [were] too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house; he loved his life better than his gods; he knew they could not defend him whatever noise he made about them.

27

And they took [the things] which Micah had made, and the priest which he had; and came unto Laish, unto a people [that were] at quiet and secure, just as the spies had represented; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, 28 and took the spoil, and burnt the city with fire. And there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Zidon, their patrons and protectors, and they had no business with [any] man, they could send no intelligence, nor were any persons concerned for them; and it was in the valley that [lieth] by Bethrehob. And they built a larger and more convenient city, and 29 dwelt therein. And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit, the name of the city [was] Laish at the first.* 30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan, to that part of the tribe, until the day of the captivity of the land, that is, till the ark and many Israelites were taken captive by the Philistines at Eli's death, as appears by the last verse compared with Psalm 31 lxxviii. 60, 61. 1 Sam. iv. 10. And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.t

1.

W

REFLECTIONS.

E learn from these idolaters, the reasonableness of acknowledging God in all our ways. They were desirous to consult idolatrous images, to know whether it was agreeable to the will of God that they should proceed in their design. How proper is it for us to inquire by prayer, what God would have us to do, and to take him with us. If our way is before the Lord, we may go in peace, and depend on success.

This was the northern boundary of Canaan. Hence came the expression, from Dan even to Beersheba. This place was afterward called Cesarea Philippi: in this, Moses' prophecy was fulfilled, Deut. xxxiii. 22, Dan is a lion's whelp, &c.

+ Idolatry lurked here all the time of the judges, and was so famous for the resort of worshippers, that Jeroboam set up one of his calves there. This was the first public idola try in Israel; and thus Jacob's prophecy was fulfilled, Dan is a serpent by the way, Gen. xlix. 17. he shall seduce the rest of the people; in allusion to the fall by the old serpent, And this illustrates Jacob's words which follow, I have waited for thy salvation, that is, for deliverance by the Messiah, who was to turn men from idols to the living and true God.

2. We may observe, that idle, luxurious, careless people, are in a fair way to ruin. This was the case of the men of Laish ; they dwelt at ease, had no business to mind: thus idleness begets vice. There was no magistrate to punish them, therefore these sinners grew impudent and bold, so that it was no wonder they were ruined. This is too just a description of many towns in this kingdom, where men live in idleness; and magistrates, whose business it is to put sinners to shame, by bringing them to punishment, neglect their duty, and bear the sword in vain. How miserable are such places, and how near to ruin! Every one therefore should endeavour to promote trade, and encourage diligence. All persons in private stations should labour to put vice out of countenance, and to keep up the reputation of virtue and religion; they should be more attentive, in proportion to the degree in which magistrates are negligent; and all should pray, that God would stir up those who have authority to use it for him; to be a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them who do well.

3. Let us learn from the story of Micah, to judge what has the chief place in our hearts, what is the supreme object of our affection, by observing what we are most unwilling to part with; what it is, the loss of which affects us most. If we lose our money, or health, or friends, or reputation, and act as if we had lost our all, and say, What have we more? it is a sign we make those things idols, and set them up in the place of God. If our happiness be bound up in any creature comfort whatever, it usurps the regard we owe to him, and shows that we are real idolaters. An interest in God is our best treasure; the loss of his favour is our greatest loss, and an irreparable damage; Woe be to us if he depart, for what have we more?

4. See how great a matter a little fire kindleth; what great mischief one tolerated sin may produce! Micah set up an idol to please his own vicious fancy, and a whole city, and probably all about it, were ensnared and corrupted by it, and the corruption continued for many ages. Let us learn to be afraid of the least sin, for it will continually increase to more ungodliness; the infection, though small at first, will spread more and more; the beginning of it is as when one letteth out water: let us therefore leave it off, before it be meddled with.

CHAP. XIX.

The story

This and the two following chapters give us an account of the wickedness of the Benjamites, and their punishment for it. in all respects is very melancholy.

1

ND it came to pass in those days, when [there was]

journing on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah; she was a lawful wife, 2 but had no dowry; he had no other. And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole 3 months. And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, (in the Hebrew, to her heart,) [and] to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses; like an honest, worthy man, he had forgiven her offences, and went to fetch her home; and he was received very gladly by her father: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days so they did eat and drink, and 5 lodged there. And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart : and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way; he wished to detain him longer, that their mutual affection 6 might be strengthened. And they sat down and did eat and drink both of them together; for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, 7 and let thine heart be merry. And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him therefore he lodged there again. And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, till the day declined, and they did eat both of them. And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, (in the Hebrew, is weak,) I pray you, tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go 10 home. But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which [is]

* Our translation says, she played the whore; the original word properly signifies, she was obstinate and disobedient; she did not like his company, and went away from him in

an ill humour.

Jerusalem; and [there were] with him two asses saddled, 11 his concubine also [was] with him. [And] when they [were]

by Jebus, the day was far spent ; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in unto this city 12 of the Jebusites and lodge in it. And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that [is] not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to 13 Gibeah. And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, 14 or in Ramah. And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them [when they were] by Gibeah, 15 which [belongeth] to Benjamin. And they turned aside thither to go in [and] to lodge in Gibeah and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for [there was] no man that took them into his house to lodging. Probably there was no public inn, and what was worse, there was no hospitality, no common humanity, except in one poor old Ephraimite.

16

:

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which [was] also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah but the men of the place [were] Benja17 mites. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? the usual 18 questions put to travellers. And he said unto him, We [are] passing from Bethlehemjudah, toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence [am] I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I [am now] going to the house of the LORD, to Shiloh, to give God thanks for family mercies, and the return of my wife; and to make atonement for her fault, and then return home and there [is] no man that receiveth me to house. 19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man [which is] with thy servants : [there 20 is] no want of any thing but a lodging. And the old man said, Peace [be] with thee; howsoever [let] all thy wants [lie] upon me; only lodge not in the street; thou art welcome 21 to my house, and the best entertainment I have. So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, as was always customary in those hot countries, and did eat and drink.

22

[Now] as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, [and] beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that

The lower part of the city was taken by Judah; but Zion, or the Fort, was in the hands of the Jebusites till David's time; and they had such a command of the city, that the Israelites were forced to let them dwell with them, chup, i. 21. But this event might have happened before Judah had possession of it.