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Contemporary English Version

Judges 18:2

The tribe chose five warriors to represent their clans and told them, "Go and find some land where we can live." The warriors left the area of Zorah and Eshtaol and went into the hill country of Ephraim. One night they stayed at Micah's house,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Eshtaol;   Jonathan;   Reconnoissance;   Thompson Chain Reference - Spies;   Zorah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dan, the Tribe of;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Micah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Eshtaol;   Zorah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Eshtaol;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Eshtaol;   Tribes of Israel, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Dan;   Eshtaol;   Israel;   Micah, Micaiah;   Priests and Levites;   Samson;   Zorah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Eshtaol ;   Jonathan ;   Zorah, Zareah, Zoreah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dan;   Micah;   Zorah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Esh'taol;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Eshtaol;   Jonathan (1);   Micah (1);   Zorah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Moses, Blessing of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So the Danites sent out five brave men from all their clans, from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout out the land and explore it. They told them, “Go and explore the land.”
Hebrew Names Version
The children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Tzor`ah, and from Eshta'ol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land. They came to the hill-country of Efrayim, to the house of Mikhah, and lodged there.
King James Version
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
Lexham English Bible
The descendants of Dan sent from the whole number of their clan five capable men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go, explore the land." And they went to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they spent the night there.
English Standard Version
So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
New Century Version
So, from their family groups, they chose five soldiers from the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out and explore the land. They were told, "Go, explore the land." They came to the mountains of Ephraim, to Micah's house, where they spent the night.
New English Translation
The Danites sent out from their whole tribe five representatives, capable men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. They said to them, "Go, explore the land." They came to the Ephraimite hill country and spent the night at Micah's house.
Amplified Bible
So the sons of Dan sent from the total number of their [extended] family five brave men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout the land and to explore it; and they said to them, "Go, explore the land." They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
New American Standard Bible
So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, "Go, explore the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and stayed overnight there.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore the children of Dan sent of their familie, fiue men out of their coastes, euen men expert in warre, out of Zorah and Eshtaol, to viewe the lande and search it out, and saide vnto them, Goe, and search out the lande. Then they came to mount Ephraim to the house of Michah and lodged there.
Legacy Standard Bible
En die kinders van Dan het uit al die dele van hulle geslag vyf man, dapper manne, uit Sórea en Estáol gestuur om die land te verken en dit te deursoek, en vir hulle gesê: Gaan deursoek die land. En hulle het die gebergte van Efraim ingegaan tot by die huis van Miga en daar die nag oorgebly.
Complete Jewish Bible
The people of Dan sent five leading men from Tzor‘ah and Eshta'ol, representing their whole tribe, to spy out and explore the land. They instructed them, "Go, and explore the land." They came to the hills of Efrayim, to the house of Mikhah, and stayed there.
Darby Translation
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men of their whole number, men of valour, from Zoreah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to examine it; and they said to them, Go, examine the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
And the Danites sent of their families five men from Zedah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to explore it; and they said to them, Go and explore the land. And they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they lodged there.
Good News Translation
So the people of Dan chose five qualified men out of all the families in the tribe and sent them from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol with instructions to explore the land and spy on it. When they arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they stayed at Micah's house.
Literal Translation
And the sons of Dan sent out of their family five men from their whole number , men, sons of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it. And they said to them,Go, search the land. And they came to thehills of Ephraim, to Micah's house, and lodged there.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the childre of Dan sent out of their kynreds fyue captaynes (which were men of armes) from Zarga and Esthaol, to spye and search out the londe. And they sayde vnto them: Go youre waie, and search out the londe. And they came vp to mount Ephraim in to ye house of Micha, and taried there all nighte.
American Standard Version
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodged there.
Bible in Basic English
So the children of Dan sent five men from among their number, strong men, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to take a look at the land and make a search through it; and they said to them, Go and make a search through the land; and they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, where they made a stop for the night.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the children of Dan sent of their kynred fyue actiue men in feates of warre out of their coastes, euen out of Zaraah & Esthaol, to viewe the lande and searche it out, and sayde vnto them: Go, and searche out the lande. Which whan they came to mount Ephraim, euen to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them: 'Go, search the land'; and they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodged there.
King James Version (1611)
And the children of Dan sent of their family, fiue men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it, and they said vnto them, Goe, search the land: Who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the sons of Dan sent from their families five men of valour, from Saraa and from Esthaol, to spy out the land and to search it; and they said to them, Go and search out the land. And they came as far as the mount of Ephraim to the house of Michaias and they lodged there,
English Revised Version
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: and they came to the hill country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodged there.
Berean Standard Bible
So the Danites sent out five men from their clans, valiant warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. "Go and explore the land," they told them. The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the sones of Dan senten fyue the strongeste men of her generacioun and meynee fro Saraa and Escahol, that thei schulden aspie the lond, and biholde diligentli. And thei seiden to hem, Go ye, and biholde the lond. And whanne thei goynge hadden come in to the hil of Effraym, and hadden entrid in to the hows of Mycha, thei restiden there.
Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Dan send, out of their family, five men of them, men, sons of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to traverse the land, and to search it, and they say unto them, `Go, search the land;' and they come into the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodge there.
Update Bible Version
And the sons of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their borders, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to explore the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
World English Bible
The children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land. They came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
New King James Version
So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, "Go, search the land." So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
New Living Translation
So the men of Dan chose from their clans five capable warriors from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol to scout out a land for them to settle in. When these warriors arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they came to Micah's house and spent the night there.
New Life Bible
So the people of Dan sent five men from all those in their family. They were men with strength of heart, from Zorah and Eshtaol, sent to look over the land. The people of Dan said to them, "Go and look over the land." And the men came to the house of Micah in the hill country of Ephraim. They stayed there.
New Revised Standard
So the Danites sent five valiant men from the whole number of their clan, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, "Go, explore the land." When they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they stayed there.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So then the sons of Dan sent, out of their family, five men out of their bounds - men who were sons of valour - out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol - to spy out the land, and to explore it, and they said unto them, Go! explore the land. And they came into the hill country of Ephraim, as far as the house of Micah, and lodged there.
Douay-Rheims Bible
So the children of Dan sent five most valiant men, of their stock and family, from Saraa and Esthaol, to spy out the land, and to view it diligently: and they said to them: Go, and view the land. They went on their way, and when they came to mount Ephraim, they went into the house of Michas, and rested there:
Revised Standard Version
So the Danites sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Esh'ta-ol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of E'phraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
THE MESSAGE
The Danites sent out five robust warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to look over the land and see what was out there suitable for their families. They said, "Go and explore the land." They went into the hill country of Ephraim and got as far as the house of Micah. They camped there for the night. As they neared Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They went over and said to him, "How on earth did you get here? What's going on? What are you doing here?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it; and they said to them, "Go, search the land." And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

Contextual Overview

1 These things happened before kings ruled Israel. About this time, the tribe of Dan was looking for a place to live. The other tribes had land, but the people of Dan did not really have any to call their own. 2 The tribe chose five warriors to represent their clans and told them, "Go and find some land where we can live." The warriors left the area of Zorah and Eshtaol and went into the hill country of Ephraim. One night they stayed at Micah's house, 3 because they heard the young Levite talking, and they knew from his accent that he was from the south. They asked him, "What are you doing here? Who brought you here?" 4 The Levite replied, "Micah hired me as his priest." Then he told them how well Micah had treated him. 5 "Please talk to God for us," the men said. "Ask God if we will be successful in what we are trying to do." 6 "Don't worry," answered the priest. "The Lord is pleased with what you are doing."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

men: Heb. sons

Zorah: Judges 18:8, Judges 18:11, Judges 13:2, Judges 13:25, Judges 16:31, Genesis 42:9, Joshua 19:41

to spy: Numbers 13:17, Joshua 2:1, Proverbs 20:18, Luke 14:31

mount: Judges 17:1, Judges 19:1, Judges 19:18, Joshua 17:15-18

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:16 - General Judges 1:23 - sent Judges 18:13 - mount Ephraim Judges 18:17 - five men 1 Chronicles 19:3 - to search

Cross-References

Genesis 18:3
and said, "Please come to my home where I can serve you.
Genesis 18:6
Abraham quickly went to his tent and said to Sarah, "Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread."
Genesis 18:7
After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared.
Genesis 18:11
Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children.
Genesis 18:16
When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them.
Genesis 19:1
That evening the two angels arrived in Sodom, while Lot was sitting near the city gate. When Lot saw them, he got up, bowed down low,
Genesis 23:7
Abraham bowed down
Genesis 32:24
Afterwards, Jacob went back and spent the rest of the night alone. A man came and fought with Jacob until just before daybreak.
Genesis 43:26
When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought, and they bowed down to him.
Genesis 43:28
They answered, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And again they bowed down to Joseph.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the children of Dan sent of their family five men,.... According to Abarbinel one out of a family, as Moses sent one out of a tribe to spy the land; and so there must be five families concerned in this affair:

from their coasts, men of valour from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; these men were sent from the borders of the tribe, the extreme parts of it, as the word may signify, where perhaps they were the most pressed and overcrowded: Zorah and Eshtaol are particularly mentioned, and were the first cities in their lot, and were the coast of their inheritance, :- some take the phrase rendered "from their coasts" to signify persons of extreme meanness, men of the lowest class among them; but the above mentioned writers interpret it to a quite contrary sense, by "Katzinim", princes, such as Moses sent to spy the land; and this better agrees with the next clause, "men of valour": and the word used signifies not only magnanimity and fortitude of mind, but wealth and riches; and these were sent not to spy the land of Canaan, but such places as fell to this tribe, but were possessed by the Canaanites; and their errand was to observe in what condition they were, and whether fit for their purpose, and easy to obtain, and how they might get the possession of any of them:

and they said unto them, search the land; and see if some convenient place cannot be found out to enlarge their inheritance, and give them more room and liberty for their families, now pent up, and a pasturage for their flocks and herds:

who when they came to Mount Ephraim; which lay upon the borders of them:

to the house of Micah, they lodged there; that is, when they were come near to the house of Micah, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it, they took up their lodging in the neighbourhood of it, perhaps at a public house or inn; for the sense is not, that they lodged in Micah's house, for after this we read of their turning into it, as in the next verse. According to Bunting r, this place was twenty four miles from Zorah and Eshtaol, from whence these men came.

r Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 112.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This identity of locality with the scene of Samson’s birth and death indicates that both narratives are drawn from the same source, probably the annals of the tribe of Dan.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 18:2. Five men - men of valour — The Hebrew word חיל chayil has been applied to personal prowess, to mental energy, and to earthly possessions. They sent those in whose courage, judgment, and prudence, they could safely confide.


 
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