Judges 18:11-12
So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This wasn't just a military raid; the text highlights that these 600 men were "appointed with weapons of war," meaning they were equipped for this journey, which quickly expands to include their families and possessions. This detail reveals their intention was not just to conquer, but to migrate and establish a new home.
Following the report of five spies who discovered a fertile but undefended territory, 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan, leaving their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol, set out on a migration. This expedition wasn't just a raid; it was a significant group, including families, embarking on a quest for a new homeland.
Imagine packing up your whole life, leaving the familiar behind, and setting out into the unknown. That's exactly what the tribe of Dan was facing.
In the days when there was 'no king in Israel,' each tribe was responsible for securing its own territory and livelihood. The tribe of Dan, for various reasons including pressure from enemies like the Philistines and Amorites, found themselves in a difficult situation. Their allotted inheritance wasn't fully secured, prompting a significant group to embark on a mission.
This verse highlights the start of that mission: 'six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.' These weren't just a few scouts; this was a substantial, armed contingent. The use of terms like 'family' in some translations (referring to the tribe) and the emphasis on 'armed with weapons of war' underscores the seriousness and potential danger of their undertaking. They were a people actively seeking a new home, driven by necessity.
Were these men simply a band of warriors on a quick raid, or was something more profound taking place?
While the text focuses on the 'six hundred men... armed with weapons of war,' it's crucial to understand that this wasn't just a military sortie. The broader context reveals that this group represented a significant portion of the tribe, and their journey was a migration, a relocation.
Scholarly insights point out that 'appointed' or 'girded' men suggest they were prepared for a serious move, not just a fleeting attack. Later verses (Judges 18:21) confirm that their wives, children, and possessions were part of this undertaking. This means the 'six hundred' were the vanguard and fighting force for a much larger community—potentially thousands of souls—seeking a permanent settlement. Their departure from Zorah and Eshtaol marked the beginning of a complete societal shift for this segment of Dan.
Understand the original words
shebet · Hebrew Noun
The covenant community of Israel, often referring to the descendants of Jacob/Israel, organized into twelve distinct groups. Each tribe had its own inheritance, identity, and role within the nation.
This migration of the Danites occurred during a period of widespread religious and political anarchy in Israel, where individual tribes and families often acted independently and syncretistic religious practices were common.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Settle Canaan
Following the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the Israelite tribes began to establish themselves in the land. However, many areas remained unconquered, and intermingling with Canaanite populations was common.
Early 13th century BC
Danites Struggle for Inheritance
The tribe of Dan had not yet fully secured their allotted inheritance in the hill country of Ephraim. Pressures from Amorites and Philistines confined them to the highlands, leading them to seek new territory.
Early 13th century BC
Micah's Idolatrous Shrine
In the hill country of Ephraim, Micah established a private shrine with an ephod, teraphim, and a graven and molten image, served by a Levite. This reflects the religious and political instability of the time, 'when every man did that which was right in his own eyes'.
Early 13th century BC
Danite Spies Seek New Land
Five spies from the tribe of Dan were sent north to scout for suitable land. They passed by Micah's shrine and consulted his Levite priest for guidance on their mission.
This passage describes the initial sending out of spies to scout the Promised Land, mirroring the Danites' own mission to find an inheritance. It highlights the fear and doubt that can accompany such ventures, setting a thematic stage for the Danites' later actions.
Joshua 19:40-48This passage details the tribal inheritance allotted to Dan, showing how they struggled to possess their assigned land. The Danites' migration in Judges 18 is a direct consequence of their inability to secure their inheritance, illustrating the difficulties faced by some tribes.
Judges 17:6This verse states that 'everyone did what was right in his own eyes' during this period, which directly contextualizes the Danites' actions. Their expedition, driven by their own perceived needs and desires rather than divine command, is a prime example of this era's moral ambiguity.
Deuteronomy 12:8-11This passage from the Law instructs Israel to worship God at a central sanctuary chosen by Him, warning against the practice of setting up personal altars and high places. The Danites' unauthorized expedition and eventual establishment of a shrine far from the designated worship center directly contravenes this command, showing the danger of straying from God's prescribed ways.
clarkeJudges 18:11: "And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war."
Six hundred men - These were not the whole, for we find they had children, etc., Judges 18:21 ; but these appear to have been six hundred armed men.
pulpitJudges 18:11: "And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war."
Verse 11. - The family - meaning the tribe (see Judges 13:2, note, and cf. Joshua 7:17). Possibly a reason for the use of the word family here and in ver. 2, as applied to Dan, may be that there was only one family in the tribe of Dan, that of the Shuhamites (Numbers 26:42). Six hundred men. With their wives and sisters and children (see ver. 2…
This wasn't just a military raid; the text highlights that these 600 men were "appointed with weapons of war," meaning they were equipped for this journey, which quickly expands to include their families and possessions. This detail reveals their intention was not just to conquer, but to migrate and establish a new home.
Following the report of five spies who discovered a fertile but undefended territory, 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan, leaving their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol, set out on a migration. This expedition wasn't just a raid; it was a significant group, including families, embarking on a quest for a new homeland.
Following the report of five spies who discovered a fertile but undefended territory, 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan, leaving their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol, set out on a migration. This expedition wasn't just a raid; it was a significant group, including families, embarking on a quest for a new homeland.
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Early 13th century BC
Danites Discover Laish
The spies found the city of Laish, a peaceful and prosperous Phoenician colony located between Lebanon and Hermon, ripe for conquest due to its inhabitants living securely and without alliances.
Early 13th century BC— this verse
Danites Steal Idols and Priest
Upon returning with news of Laish, the six hundred armed Danites, accompanied by their families, traveled north. They stopped at Micah's house, stole his religious artifacts, and persuaded his Levite priest to join them, effectively taking Micah's 'gods' and priest with them.
"So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jea…" — This wasn't just a military raid; the text highlights that these 600 men were "appointed with weapons of war," meaning they were equipped for this journey, which quickly expands to include their fa…
