Judges 18:11-12
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While it says "six hundred men," this wasn't just a fighting force; it included their families and possessions, representing an entire migration seeking a new home. The word "appointed" is key – it signifies these men were equipped and ready for a significant, life-changing journey, not just a quick raid.
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)
Following a report from five spies about a fertile, undefended land to the north, 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan prepare to leave their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol. This armed contingent, part of a larger group that includes families and livestock, sets out on a migration to conquer and settle the new territory. Their expedition begins amidst a period described as having "no king in Israel," a time when individuals and tribes often acted according to their own judgment.
Ever felt like you were searching for a place to belong? The tribe of Dan was doing just that.
In the days when there was 'no king in Israel,' the land was unsettled, and tribes often struggled to find their allotted territory. The Danites, specifically, hadn't fully secured their inheritance and faced pressure from surrounding peoples. Judges 18:1 tells us they were 'seeking for themselves a place to dwell in.' This verse, Judges 18:11, shows the initial step in their solution: a large group of 600 armed men setting out from their established towns of Zorah and Eshtaol.
These weren't just soldiers on a mission; they were a community uprooting their lives.
While verse 11 focuses on the 'six hundred men appointed with weapons of war,' the context reveals this was no mere military raid. The commentaries point out that this group included families. Judges 18:21 explicitly states they brought their 'wives and children and cattle.' This wasn't just a scouting party, but a significant migration, a substantial portion of the tribe relocating to find a new home. The 'six hundred armed men' were the vanguard and protection for the entire migrating clan.
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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 verse captures a moment of tribal migration driven by a lack of inheritance and external pressures. The Danites were not just seeking land but also carrying with them a stolen religious system, highlighting the spiritual and social instability of the era.
c. 13th century BC
Danite Tribe Struggles for Inheritance
The tribe of Dan faced significant challenges in securing their allotted territory, being pressured by Amorites and Philistines. This led them to seek new land.
c. 13th century BC
Levite Seeking Livelihood
A Levite, likely a descendant of Moses, leaves Bethlehem-Judah seeking employment and falls into the service of a man named Micah, becoming a priest for his idols.
c. 13th century BC
Danite Spies Explore North
Five Danite men are sent to scout for a new home. They pass by Micah's house, consult with his Levite priest, and receive encouragement for their mission.
c. 13th century BC
Spies Discover Laish
The Danite spies find the city of Laish, a peaceful and unsuspecting Phoenician colony in the northern Jordan region, deeming it a suitable place for conquest.
c. 13th century BC
Danites Steal Idols and Priest
The Danite spies, upon returning with their report, learn of Micah's sanctuary. They steal his idols and bribe his Levite priest to join them, justifying it as necessary for their expedition.
c. 13th century BC— this verse
Migration of 600 Danites
Six hundred armed men from the tribe of Dan, along with their families and possessions, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol with the intention of conquering Laish and establishing a new home.
c. 13th century BC
Establishment of Danite Idolatry
The Danites conquer Laish, rename it Dan, and set up the stolen idols and the Levite priest. This establishes a center of idolatrous worship that lasts for centuries.
This passage describes the initial mission of spies sent out by Israel, paralleling the Danites' need to scout out territory before their migration and conquest.
Deuteronomy 12:1-14This scripture emphasizes God's command for Israel to worship Him at a single, appointed place, highlighting the deviation from God's will seen in the Danites' actions later in the chapter.
Joshua 19:40-48This passage details the inheritance assigned to the tribe of Dan, showing their ongoing struggle to possess their land and providing context for their migration.
Judges 17:1-6This immediately preceding chapter introduces Micah and his personal shrine, directly setting the stage for the Danites' encounter with its idols and priest.
Judges 18:21-31This passage describes the ultimate success of the Danites' expedition, including their theft of Micah's idols and priest, illustrating the consequence of their armed migration.
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…
While it says "six hundred men," this wasn't just a fighting force; it included their families and possessions, representing an entire migration seeking a new home. The word "appointed" is key – it signifies these men were equipped and ready for a significant, life-changing journey, not just a quick raid.
Following a report from five spies about a fertile, undefended land to the north, 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan prepare to leave their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol. This armed contingent, part of a larger group that includes families and livestock, sets out on a migration to conquer and settle the new territory. Their expedition begins amidst a period described as having "no king in Israel," a time when individuals and tribes often acted according to their own judgment.
Following a report from five spies about a fertile, undefended land to the north, 600 armed men from the tribe of Dan prepare to leave their homes in Zorah and Eshtaol. This armed contingent, part of a larger group that includes families and livestock, sets out on a migration to conquer and settle the new territory. Their expedition begins amidst a period described as having "no king in Israel," a time when individuals and tribes often acted according to their own judgment.
"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…" — While it says "six hundred men," this wasn't just a fighting force; it included their families and possessions, representing an entire migration seeking a new home. The word "appointed" is key – it s…
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Last reviewed October 2026
