Chapter 18

1In those days there was no king in Yisrael, and in those days the tribe of Dan was seeking a territory in which to settle; for to that day no territory had fallen to their lot among the tribes of Yisrael.

ba-ya-MEEM ha-HAYM AYN ME-lekh b'-yis-ra-AYL u-va-ya-MEEM ha-HAYM SHAY-vet ha-da-NEE m'-va-kesh LO na-kha-LAH la-SHE-vet KEE lo na-f'-LAH LO ad ha-YOM ha-HU b'-tokh shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL b'-na-kha-LAH

אבַּיָּמִים הָהֵם אֵין מֶלֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבַיָּמִים הָהֵם שֵׁבֶט הַדָּנִי מְבַקֶּשׁ־לוֹ נַחֲלָה לָשֶׁבֶת כִּי לֹא־נָפְלָה לּוֹ עַד־הַיּוֹם הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ־שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּנַחֲלָה׃

2The Danites sent out five of their number, from their clan seat at Tzora and Eshtaol—valiant men—to spy out the land and explore it. “Go,” they told them, “and explore the land.” When they had advanced into the hill country of Efraim as far as the house of Micha, they stopped there for the night.

va-yish-l'-KHU v'-nay DAN mi-mish-pakh-TAM kha-mi-SHAH a-na-SHEEM mik-tzo-TAM a-na-SHEEM b'-nay KHA-yil mi-tzor-AH u-may-esh-ta-OL l'-ra-GAYL et ha-A-retz ul-khok-RAH va-yo-m'-RU a-lay-HEM l'-KHU khik-RU et ha-A-retz va-ya-VO-u har ef-RA-yim ad BAYT mee-KHAH va-ya-LEE-nu SHAM

בוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ בְנֵי־דָן מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּם חֲמִשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים מִקְצוֹתָם אֲנָשִׁים בְּנֵי־חַיִל מִצָּרְעָה וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹל לְרַגֵּל אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וּלְחָקְרָהּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם לְכוּ חִקְרוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וַיָּבֹאוּ הַר־אֶפְרַיִם עַד־בֵּית מִיכָה וַיָּלִינוּ שָׁם׃

3While in the vicinity of Micha's house, they recognized the speech of the young Levite, so they went over and asked him, “Who brought you to these parts? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?”

HAY-mah im BAYT mee-KHAH v'-HAY-mah hi-KEE-ru et KOL ha-NA-ar ha-lay-VEE va-ya-SU-ru SHAM va-YO-m'-ru LO mee he-vee-a-KHA ha-LOM u-mah a-TAH o-SEH ba-ZEH u-mah l'-KHA FOH

גהֵמָּה עִם־בֵּית מִיכָה וְהֵמָּה הִכִּירוּ אֶת־קוֹל הַנַּעַר הַלֵּוִי וַיָּסוּרוּ שָׁם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ מִי־הֱבִיאֲךָ הֲלֹם וּמָה־אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה בָּזֶה וּמַה־לְּךָ פֹה׃

4He replied, “Thus and thus Micha did for me—he hired me and I became his Kohen.”

va-YO-mer a-lay-HEM ka-ZOH v'-kha-ZEH A-sah LEE mee-KHAH va-yis-k'-RAY-nee va-e-hee LO l'-kho-HAYN

דוַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם כָּזֹה וְכָזֶה עָשָׂה לִי מִיכָה וַיִּשְׂכְּרֵנִי וָאֱהִי־לוֹ לְכֹהֵן׃

5They said to him, “Please, inquire of Hashem; we would like to know if the mission on which we are going will be successful.”

va-YO-m'-ru LO sh'-al NA vay-lo-HEEM v'-nay-d'-AH ha-tatz-LI-akh dar-KAY-nu a-SHER a-NAKH-nu ho-l'-KHEEM a-LE-ha

הוַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ שְׁאַל־נָא בֵאלֹהִים וְנֵדְעָה הֲתַצְלִיחַ דַּרְכֵּנוּ אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ הֹלְכִים עָלֶיהָ׃

6“Go in peace,” the Kohen said to them, “Hashem views with favor the mission you are going on.”

va-YO-mer la-HEM ha-ko-HAYN l'-KHU l'-sha-LOM NO-khakh a-do-NAI dar-k'-KHEM a-SHER tay-l'-khu VAH

ווַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַכֹּהֵן לְכוּ לְשָׁלוֹם נֹכַח יְהֹוָה דַּרְכְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ־בָהּ׃

7The five men went on and came to Laish. They observed the people in it dwelling carefree, after the manner of the Sidonians, a tranquil and unsuspecting people, with no one in the land to molest them and with no hereditary ruler. Moreover, they were distant from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anybody.

va-yay-l'-KHU kha-MAY-shet ha-a-na-SHEEM va-ya-VO-u LAI-shah va-yir-U et ha-AM a-sher b'-kir-BAH yo-SHE-vet la-VE-takh k'-mish-PAT tzi-do-NEEM sho-KAYT u-vo-TAY-akh v'-ayn makh-LEEM da-VAR ba-A-retz yo-RAYSH E-tzer ur-kho-KEEM HAY-mah mi-tzee-do-NEEM v'-da-VAR ayn la-HEM im a-DAM

זוַיֵּלְכוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיָּבֹאוּ לָיְשָׁה וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־בְּקִרְבָּהּ יוֹשֶׁבֶת־לָבֶטַח כְּמִשְׁפַּט צִדֹנִים שֹׁקֵט וּבֹטֵחַ וְאֵין־מַכְלִים דָּבָר בָּאָרֶץ יוֹרֵשׁ עֶצֶר וּרְחֹקִים הֵמָּה מִצִּדֹנִים וְדָבָר אֵין־לָהֶם עִם־אָדָם׃

8When [the men] came back to their kinsmen at Tzora and Eshtaol, their kinsmen asked them, “How did you fare?”

va-ya-VO-u el a-khay-HEM tzor-AH v'-esh-ta-OL va-yo-m'-RU la-HEM a-khay-HEM MAH a-TEM

חוַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־אֲחֵיהֶם צָרְעָה וְאֶשְׁתָּאֹל וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהֶם אֲחֵיהֶם מָה אַתֶּם׃

9They replied, “Let us go at once and attack them! For we found that the land was very good, and you are sitting idle! Don't delay; go and invade the land and take possession of it,

va-yo-m'-RU KU-mah v'-na-a-LEH a-lay-HEM KEE ra-EE-nu et ha-A-retz v'-hi-NAY to-VAH m'-OD v'-a-TEM makh-SHEEM al tay-a-tz'-LU la-LE-khet la-VO la-RE-shet et ha-A-retz

טוַיֹּאמְרוּ קוּמָה וְנַעֲלֶה עֲלֵיהֶם כִּי רָאִינוּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה טוֹבָה מְאֹד וְאַתֶּם מַחְשִׁים אַל־תֵּעָצְלוּ לָלֶכֶת לָבֹא לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת־הָאָרֶץ׃

10for Hashem has delivered it into your hand. When you come, you will come to an unsuspecting people; and the land is spacious and nothing on earth is lacking there.”

k'-vo-a-KHEM ta-VO-u el AM bo-TAY-akh v'-ha-A-retz ra-kha-VAT ya-DA-yim kee n'-ta-NAH e-lo-HEEM b'-yed-KHEM ma-KOM a-SHER ayn SHAM makh-SOR kol da-VAR a-SHER ba-A-retz

יכְּבֹאֲכֶם תָּבֹאוּ אֶל־עַם בֹּטֵחַ וְהָאָרֶץ רַחֲבַת יָדַיִם כִּי־נְתָנָהּ אֱלֹהִים בְּיֶדְכֶם מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֵין־שָׁם מַחְסוֹר כָּל־דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ׃

11They departed from there, from the clan seat of the Danites, from Tzora and Eshtaol, six hundred strong, girt with weapons of war.

va-yis-U mi-SHAM mi-mish-PA-khat ha-da-NEE mi-tzor-AH u-may-esh-ta-OL shaysh may-OT EESH kha-GUR k'-LAY mil-kha-MAH

יאוַיִּסְעוּ מִשָּׁם מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת הַדָּנִי מִצָּרְעָה וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹל שֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת אִישׁ חָגוּר כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה׃

12They went up and encamped at Kiryat Ye'arim in Yehuda. That is why that place is called “the Camp of Dan” to this day; it lies west of Kiryat Ye'arim.

va-ya-a-LU va-ya-kha-NU b'-kir-YAT y'-a-REEM bee-hu-DAH al KAYN ka-r'-U la-ma-KOM ha-HU ma-kha-nay DAN AD ha-YOM ha-ZEH hi-NAY a-kha-RAY kir-YAT y'-a-REEM

יבוַיַּעֲלוּ וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּקִרְיַת יְעָרִים בִּיהוּדָה עַל־כֵּן קָרְאוּ לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא מַחֲנֵה־דָן עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הִנֵּה אַחֲרֵי קִרְיַת יְעָרִים׃

13From there they passed on to the hill country of Efraim and arrived at the house of Micha.

va-ya-av-RU mi-SHAM har ef-RA-yim va-ya-VO-u ad BAYT mee-KHAH

יגוַיַּעַבְרוּ מִשָּׁם הַר־אֶפְרָיִם וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד־בֵּית מִיכָה׃

14Here the five men who had gone to spy out the Laish region remarked to their kinsmen, “Do you know, there is an ephod in these houses, and teraphim, and a sculptured image and a molten image? Now you know what you have to do.”

va-ya-a-NU kha-MAY-shet ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-ho-l'-KHEEM l'-ra-GAYL et ha-A-retz LA-yish va-yo-m'-RU el a-khay-HEM hai-da-TEM KEE YAYSH ba-ba-TEEM ha-AY-leh ay-FOD ut-ra-FEEM u-FE-sel u-ma-say-KHAH v'-a-TAH d'-U mah ta-a-SU

ידוַיַּעֲנוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים הַהֹלְכִים לְרַגֵּל אֶת־הָאָרֶץ לַיִשׁ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־אֲחֵיהֶם הַיְדַעְתֶּם כִּי יֵשׁ בַּבָּתִּים הָאֵלֶּה אֵפוֹד וּתְרָפִים וּפֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה וְעַתָּה דְּעוּ מַה־תַּעֲשׂוּ׃

15So they turned off there and entered the home of the young Levite at Micha's house and greeted him.

va-ya-SU-ru SHA-mah va-ya-VO-u el bayt ha-NA-ar ha-lay-VEE BAYT mee-KHAH va-yish-a-lu LO l'-sha-LOM

טווַיָּסוּרוּ שָׁמָּה וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־בֵּית־הַנַּעַר הַלֵּוִי בֵּית מִיכָה וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־לוֹ לְשָׁלוֹם׃

16The six hundred Danite men, girt with their weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate,

v'-shaysh may-OT EESH kha-gu-REEM k'-LAY mil-kham-TAM ni-tza-VEEM PE-takh ha-SHA-ar a-SHER mi-b'-nay DAN

טזוְשֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת אִישׁ חֲגוּרִים כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתָּם נִצָּבִים פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר אֲשֶׁר מִבְּנֵי־דָן׃

17while the five men who had gone to spy out the land went inside and took the sculptured image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image. The Kohen was standing at the entrance of the gate, and the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war,

va-ya-a-LU kha-MAY-shet ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-ho-l'-KHEEM l'-ra-GAYL et ha-A-retz BA-u SHA-mah la-k'-KHU et ha-PE-sel v'-et ha-ay-FOD v'-et ha-t'-ra-FEEM v'-et ha-ma-say-KHAH v'-ha-ko-HAYN ni-TZAV PE-takh ha-SHA-ar v'-shaysh may-OT ha-EESH he-kha-GUR k'-LAY ha-mil-kha-MAH

יזוַיַּעֲלוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים הַהֹלְכִים לְרַגֵּל אֶת־הָאָרֶץ בָּאוּ שָׁמָּה לָקְחוּ אֶת־הַפֶּסֶל וְאֶת־הָאֵפוֹד וְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת־הַמַּסֵּכָה וְהַכֹּהֵן נִצָּב פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ הֶחָגוּר כְּלֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה׃

18while those men entered Micha's house and took the sculptured image, the molten image, the ephod, and the household gods. The Kohen said to them, “What are you doing?”

v'-AY-leh BA-u BAYT mee-KHAH va-yik-KHU et PE-sel ha-ay-FOD v'-et ha-t'-ra-FEEM v'-et ha-ma-say-KHAH va-YO-mer a-lay-HEM ha-ko-HAYN MAH a-TEM o-SEEM

יחוְאֵלֶּה בָּאוּ בֵּית מִיכָה וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־פֶּסֶל הָאֵפוֹד וְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת־הַמַּסֵּכָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם הַכֹּהֵן מָה אַתֶּם עֹשִׂים׃

19But they said to him, “Be quiet; put your hand on your mouth! Come with us and be our father and Kohen. Would you rather be Kohen to one man's household or be Kohen to a tribe and clan in Yisrael?”

va-YO-m'-ru LO ha-kha-RAYSH SEEM ya-d'-KHA al PEE-kha v'-LAYKH i-MA-nu veh-yay LA-nu l'-AV ul-kho-HAYN ha-TOV he-yo-t'-KHA kho-HAYN l'-VAYT EESH e-KHAD O he-yo-t'-KHA kho-HAYN l'-SHAY-vet ul-mish-pa-KHAH b'-yis-ra-AYL

יטוַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ הַחֲרֵשׁ שִׂים־יָדְךָ עַל־פִּיךָ וְלֵךְ עִמָּנוּ וֶהְיֵה־לָנוּ לְאָב וּלְכֹהֵן הֲטוֹב הֱיוֹתְךָ כֹהֵן לְבֵית אִישׁ אֶחָד אוֹ הֱיוֹתְךָ כֹהֵן לְשֵׁבֶט וּלְמִשְׁפָּחָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃

20The Kohen was delighted. He took the ephod, the household gods, and the sculptured image, and he joined the people.

va-yeey-TAV LAYV ha-ko-HAYN va-yi-KAKH et ha-ay-FOD v'-et ha-t'-ra-FEEM v'-et ha-PA-sel va-ya-VO b'-KE-rev ha-AM

כוַיִּיטַב לֵב הַכֹּהֵן וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הָאֵפוֹד וְאֶת־הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת־הַפָּסֶל וַיָּבֹא בְּקֶרֶב הָעָם׃

21They set out again, placing the children, the cattle, and their household goods in front.

va-yif-NU va-yay-LAY-khu va-ya-SEE-mu et ha-TAF v'-et ha-mik-NEH v'-et ha-k'-vu-DAH lif-nay-HEM

כאוַיִּפְנוּ וַיֵּלֵכוּ וַיָּשִׂימוּ אֶת־הַטַּף וְאֶת־הַמִּקְנֶה וְאֶת־הַכְּבוּדָּה לִפְנֵיהֶם׃

22They had already gone some distance from Micha's house, when the men in the houses near Micha's mustered and caught up with the Danites.

HAY-mah hir-KHEE-ku mi-BAYT mee-KHAH v'-ha-a-na-SHEEM a-SHER ba-ba-TEEM a-SHER im BAYT mee-KHAH niz-a-KU va-yad-BEE-ku et b'-nay DAN

כבהֵמָּה הִרְחִיקוּ מִבֵּית מִיכָה וְהָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בַּבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר עִם־בֵּית מִיכָה נִזְעֲקוּ וַיַּדְבִּיקוּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־דָן׃

23They called out to the Danites, who turned around and said to Micha, “What's the matter? Why have you mustered?”

va-yik-r'-U el b'-nay DAN va-ya-SAY-bu p'-nay-HEM va-yo-m'-RU l'-mee-KHAH mah LAKH KEE niz-AK-ta

כגוַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־בְּנֵי־דָן וַיַּסֵּבּוּ פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לְמִיכָה מַה־לְּךָ כִּי נִזְעָקְתָּ׃

24He said, “You have taken my Kohen and the gods that I made, and walked off! What do I have left? How can you ask, ‘What's the matter'?”

va-YO-mer et e-lo-HAI a-sher a-SEE-tee l'-kakh-TEM v'-et ha-ko-HAYN va-tay-l'-KHU u-mah LEE OD u-mah ZEH to-m'-RU ay-LAI mah LAKH

כדוַיֹּאמֶר אֶת־אֱלֹהַי אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִי לְקַחְתֶּם וְאֶת־הַכֹּהֵן וַתֵּלְכוּ וּמַה־לִּי עוֹד וּמַה־זֶּה תֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי מַה־לָּךְ׃

25But the Danites replied, “Don't do any shouting at us, or some desperate men might attack you, and you and your family would lose your lives.”

va-yo-m'-RU ay-LAV b'-nay DAN al tish-MA ko-l'-KHA i-MA-nu pen yif-g'-U va-KHEM a-na-SHEEM ma-RAY NE-fesh v'-a-saf-TAH naf-sh'-KHA v'-NE-fesh bay-TE-kha

כהוַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו בְּנֵי־דָן אַל־תַּשְׁמַע קוֹלְךָ עִמָּנוּ פֶּן־יִפְגְּעוּ בָכֶם אֲנָשִׁים מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּה נַפְשְׁךָ וְנֶפֶשׁ בֵּיתֶךָ׃

26So Micha, realizing that they were stronger than he, turned back and went home; and the Danites went on their way,

va-yay-l'-KHU v'-nay DAN l'-dar-KAM va-YAR mee-KHAH kee kha-za-KEEM HAY-mah mi-ME-nu va-YI-fen va-YA-shov el bay-TO

כווַיֵּלְכוּ בְנֵי־דָן לְדַרְכָּם וַיַּרְא מִיכָה כִּי־חֲזָקִים הֵמָּה מִמֶּנּוּ וַיִּפֶן וַיָּשָׁב אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ׃

27taking the things Micha had made and the Kohen he had acquired. They proceeded to Laish, a people tranquil and unsuspecting, and they put them to the sword and burned down the town.

v'-HAY-mah la-k'-KHU AYT a-sher a-SAH mee-KHAH v'-et ha-ko-HAYN a-SHER ha-yah LO va-ya-VO-u al LA-yish al AM sho-KAYT u-vo-TAY-akh va-ya-KU o-TAM l'-fee KHA-rev v'-et ha-EER sa-r'-FU va-AYSH

כזוְהֵמָּה לָקְחוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה מִיכָה וְאֶת־הַכֹּהֵן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה־לוֹ וַיָּבֹאוּ עַל־לַיִשׁ עַל־עַם שֹׁקֵט וּבֹטֵחַ וַיַּכּוּ אוֹתָם לְפִי־חָרֶב וְאֶת־הָעִיר שָׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ׃

28There was none to come to the rescue, for it was distant from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone; it lay in the valley of Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the town and settled there,

v'-AYN ma-TZEEL KEE r'-kho-kah HEE mi-tzee-DON v'-da-VAR ayn la-HEM im a-DAM v'-HEE ba-AY-mek a-SHER l'-vayt r'-KHOV va-yiv-NU et ha-EER va-YAY-sh'-vu VAH

כחוְאֵין מַצִּיל כִּי רְחוֹקָה־הִיא מִצִּידוֹן וְדָבָר אֵין־לָהֶם עִם־אָדָם וְהִיא בָּעֵמֶק אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית־רְחוֹב וַיִּבְנוּ אֶת־הָעִיר וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בָהּ׃

29and they named the town Dan, after their ancestor Dan who was Yisrael's son. Originally, however, the name of the town was Laish.

va-yik-r'-U shaym ha-EER DAN b'-SHAYM DAN a-vee-HEM a-SHER yu-LAD l'-yis-ra-AYL v'-u-LAM LA-yish shaym ha-EER la-ri-sho-NAH

כטוַיִּקְרְאוּ שֵׁם־הָעִיר דָּן בְּשֵׁם דָּן אֲבִיהֶם אֲשֶׁר יוּלַּד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוּלָם לַיִשׁ שֵׁם־הָעִיר לָרִאשֹׁנָה׃

30The Danites set up the sculptured image for themselves; and Yonatan son of Gershom son of Menashe, and his descendants, served as Kohanim to the Danite tribe until the land went into exile.

va-ya-KEE-mu la-HEM b'-nay DAN et ha-PA-sel vee-ho-na-TAN ben gay-r'-SHOM ben m'-na-SHEH HU u-va-NAV ha-YU kho-ha-NEEM l'-SHAY-vet ha-da-NEE ad yom g'-LOT ha-A-retz

לוַיָּקִימוּ לָהֶם בְּנֵי־דָן אֶת־הַפָּסֶל וִיהוֹנָתָן בֶּן־גֵּרְשֹׁם בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁה הוּא וּבָנָיו הָיוּ כֹהֲנִים לְשֵׁבֶט הַדָּנִי עַד־יוֹם גְּלוֹת הָאָרֶץ׃

31They maintained the sculptured image that Micha had made throughout the time that the House of Hashem stood at Shilo.

va-ya-SEE-mu la-HEM et PE-sel mee-KHAH a-SHER a-SAH kol y'-MAY he-YOT bayt ha-e-lo-HEEM b'-shi-LOH

לאוַיָּשִׂימוּ לָהֶם אֶת־פֶּסֶל מִיכָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה כָּל־יְמֵי הֱיוֹת בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִים בְּשִׁלֹה׃