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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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THE DANITES COVET
AN INHERITANCE Judges 18:1-31,
1/29/14 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE DANITES WERE UNABLE TO SECURE THEIR INHERITANCE (Jdg 18:1) A. This was a time prior to the time when Israel would be ruled by
kings. Up until that time, they were ruled by judges. However, Israel would
ask Samuel for a king (1Sa 8:1, 5), which in essence was a rejection of the
Lord being their king (1Sa 8:7). But no matter what they case, Israel was
determined to do what was right in their own eyes (Jdg 17:6). B. [1] The NASB translates, “for until that
day an inheritance had not been allotted to them.” This would suggest that
this incident took place before Joshua’s allotment was given to Dan. The
Hebrew text reads, “because there had not fallen to them by that day in the
midst of the tribes of Israel an inheritance.” Some translations (NET, ESV,
KJV, NKJV), suggest that Dan had been given an allotment but had not been
able to conquer it. This idea fits within the context of Judges. For in Jos
19:40-46, the Danites had been given an allotment of land, but had been
unable to secure it (Jdg 1:34 cf. Jdg 13:1; 14:4; 15:11). Dan was also
rebuked in Deborah’s song for staying in their ships and not coming to battle
(Jdg 5:17, possibly indicating they had not yet migrated north).
Having accepting defeat, they ventured north for another territory.
Unfortunately for them, it would lead them into sin and idolatry. II. THE DANITES MEET THE YOUNG LEVITE PRIEST
(Jdg 18:2-6) A. [2] Five “valiant” (chayil - warriors)
men from the tribe of Dan were sent out from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out new
territory. On the way, they came to the house of Micah in the hill country of
Ephraim and lodged there. B. [3-4] While there, they recognized the
young man who was a Levite and had become Micah’s personally hired priest.
They spoke to him to find out why he was there. C. [5-6] The Danites asked the young Levite
priest to inquire of God as to whether they would be prosperous or not. The
young Levite priest told them to go in peace because they had the Lord’s
blessing on their mission. Why didn’t the Danites pray themselves before they
left Eshtaol? How did the young priest
secure God’s blessing? The true condition of all of their spiritual lives was
suspect. It could be that the priest gave them the news they wanted to hear.
He possibly figured that he would not likely see them again. Or perhaps he
used the ephod or the idols to determine their success. In either case, both
parties were disobeying the limits placed on them by God. Most assuredly
then, God was not behind their decisions and actions. III. THE DANITES SEEK ANOTHER INHERITANCE AT
LAISH (Jdg 18:7-10) A. [7] The five spies travelled some one hundred miles north of
their allotted inheritance. In fact they were at the farthest northern region
of all the tribes. They came to Laish La-ēsh (called Leshem in
Jos 19:47-48 and called it Dan) and found that the people were living
securely and unhindered from other ruling nations. Laish was also far enough
away from the protection of the Sidonians (Sidon). B. [8-9] The five spies returned to Zorah and
Eshtaol and were asked for a report. Their report was that they found some
very good land and they should go possess it immediately. The phrase “will
you sit still?” may imply the innate hesitancy of the Danites. To assure
them, the five spies invoked the phrase “possess the land” as if they were
following Moses’ directives (Dt 3:20; 9:23; 10:11; 11:31; Jos 1:11). C. [10] With more persuasive words, they
exhorted the Danites. The Danites would come up against a secure people
isolated from dominating and protecting nations. They would certainly succeed
because “God has given them into their hand.” They had the word of a
Levitical priest (they thought). Finally, they would lack nothing there in
that country. In a distinction from the spies in Num 13, these spies were
reporting they could defeat these quiet and peaceful people rather than
giants. Though the five spies claimed God’s will and intervention, they were
choosing to conquer a different land than the one God had actually given
them. IV. THE DANITES STEAL FROM HOUSE OF MICAH (Jdg
18:11-21) A. [11-12] Having been convinced to take the new land, the Danites
sent out 600 armed men. They camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah and called it
Mahaneh-dan (“camp of Dan”). This was the place where the Spirit of the Lord
began to stir Samson (Jdg 13:25, and obviously occurred after Jdg 18:12). B. [13-14] From there they went to the hill
country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah. The five spies mentioned
to the rest of the army that inside Micah’s house was an ephod, household
idols, graven image and a molten image. In considering what to do about the
valuable but idolatrous images, they should have been considering Dt 13:6-11.
But instead they revealed their own idolatrous hearts. C. [15-16] Having made up their mind, they
stopped at the house of Micah where the young priest was staying. They struck
up a conversation with the priest as the entire army stood by the entrance of
the gate. D. [17-18] In the meantime, while the priest
conversed with the army at the gate, the five spies entered the house and
took the ephod, household idols, graven image and a molten image. When the
priest noticed them he asked them what they were doing. E. [19] They said to him, perhaps in an
intimidating way, “Be silent, put your hand over your mouth.” Shrewdly, they
asked the priest to come with them and posed a question to him. They asked if
it was better for him to be a priest to the house of one man or to be a
priest to a whole tribe of Israel. F. [20] The text states that the priest’s
heart was glad. Perhaps he was glad that he was not going to be killed by the
army. Or perhaps he was glad to throw in with them looking for the most
lucrative ministry he could find. So he helped take the items and went with
the people. The same question is being asked today of ministers. Is it better
to be a pastor of a small church that is concerned about spiritual things or
would it be better to be the pastor of a mega-church where all your needs and
wants would be met? Opportunistic ministers have a three thousand year
history. G. [21] The army of Danites came, stole, and
departed. They did so without flinching even in the presence of their
families. Suspecting that Micah would pursue them, they put their families
(“little ones”), livestock, and valuables out in front of them in order to
guard the rear.. V. THE DANITES THREATEN THE HOUSE OF MICAH
(Jdg 18:22-26) A. [22-23] Witnesses of the crime informed Micah and assembled
together. They decided to pursue the sons of Dan, who were by this time some
distance away. When they caught up to the Danites, the Danites asked Micah
what his problem was and why had he assembled together (as if they did not
know). B. [24] Micah replied, “You have taken away
my gods which I made.” What irony. Here Micah was attempting to protect the
gods because somehow they could not protect themselves. Maybe it was because
Micah “made them” and they were not gods at all. In addition, they hired
Micah’s hired-priest and now Micah had nothing left. He questions how they
could even as such a question. C. [25] Basically the sons of Dan said,
“Don’t talk to us with that tone of voice, otherwise
we will tone it down permanently. When did the Danites become so fierce? They
did not do so well where they came from. In fact, if they had to, they would
have killed Micah’s entire household. We read nothing of the priest’s
comments. D. [26] With those words, the Danites went
one way with Micah’s idols and priest, and Micah went to other way not be
able to do anything about it. VI. THE DANITES OVERPOWER LAISH (Jdg 18:27-31) A. [27-28] Gaining all the spoils like a crafty serpent (cf. Ge
49:17), the Danites also overpowered the quiet and secure people of Laish.
They were isolated and helpless and no match for the Danites. They killed
them, plundered them, and burned the city. Though Laish was a Canaanite city,
it was within the tribal rights of Naphtali, not Dan. This action by Dan was
a cowardly act brought to light by the author. B. [29-31] They inappropriately named the
city after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel. The name
means, “justice” but the city was taken by injustice. The priest’s name was
revealed as Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of
“Manasseh” (could have been a scribal error that changed it from “Moses” (Ex
2:21-22) to “Manasseh”). They worshipped Micah’s graven image, perhaps
justifying that the house of God (in Shiloh) was far away. VII. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. If we reject the clear instruction of Scripture, it can cause
us to be open to spurious revelation under the guise of Christianity (Jdg
18:5; cf. Mt 4:4; Eph 5:17; Col 1:9). B. If we reject the clear instruction of
Scripture, it can cause us to look for spurious approval under the guise of
Christianity (Jdg 18:6; cf. Ro 1:27). C. If we reject the clear instruction of
Scripture, it can cause us to engage in spurious applications under the guise
of Christianity (Jdg 18:19, 25, 27; cf. 1Ti 4:1-6). D. If we reject the clear instruction of
Scripture, it can cause us to look for spurious worship under the guise of
Christianity (Jdg 18:31; cf. Jn 4:24; Col 1:18). |
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