DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2017 August 29
High Priest
Icon
Iconography
Monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus Qartaba, Lebanon
Image Source: Melkite.org
SPECIAL NOTE:
[ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ]
Explanation: In Judges 18, the tribe of Dan sought to expand their territory. In preparation for this, they sent five men to spy out the land. The five went to the house of Micah (who was mentioned in the previous chapter), where they recognized the voice of the priest who was ministering to him and his family; and they quizzed him about how and why he was there. And they asked him to inquire of God as to whether their mission would prosper. The priest gave a positive answer (1-6).
As they continued their search, the men came to Laish, which was isolated, poorly defended, complacent, and rich. They advised their tribe to go and conquer Laish immediately (7-10).
In response to the report, six hundred men from the tribe of Dan set up a military camp in Kirjathjearim, in Judah; and from there they came to the house of Micah (11-13).
The five spies told the six hundred that Micah had an ephod, teraphim, a graven image, and a molten image. So the six hundred went to Micah's house and took these items. When the priest who was ministering in Micah's house objected, they told to him to hold his peace and to come be the priest for the whole tribe of Dan. He happily agreed to do so (14-20).
As the Danites left the house of Micah, Micah came after them with some others. The Danites warned him to go back lest he die. And, because they were too strong for him, Micah turned back (21-26).
The Danites then conquered and burned Laish. Afterward, they built a new city on the site and called it Dan after their forefather. The priest (Jonathan) and his descendants served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the captivity of the land (or captivity of the ark, as some speculate -- 1 Samuel 4:11, 21-22). And Micah's graven image was there even while the Tabernacle was in Shiloh -- 1 Samuel 1:3 (27-31).
[ Sermons: Vern Picknally. Various. ]
[ Illustration: Today's image is of a high priest in a well ordered system. However, the priesthood in the days recorded in today's chapter was highly disordered and not in accord with God's instructions through Moses. ]
RESOURCES
PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Judges 18:
[1] Judges 20:12; Judges 1:34; Joshua 19:40-48.
[2] Genesis 19:4; 1 Kings 12:31; Judges 21:10; Joshua 2:10; Joshua 2:1.
[3] Exodus 28:35; Judges 17:5.
[4] 2 Samuel 11:25; 1 Kings 14:5; Judges 17:13; 1 Kings 12:31.
[5] 1 Kings 22:5; Isaiah 30:1; Hosea 4:12.
[6] Proverbs 5:21; Ezra 8:21.
[7] Joshua 19:47; Genesis 49:16; Judges 20:1; Isaiah 10:30; Genesis 14:14.
[9] Numbers 14:7; Joshua 2:23-24; 1 Kings 22:3; 2 Kings 7:9.
[10] Genesis 34:11; Judges 18:7; Judges 18:28; Judges 18:6.
[11] Numbers 26:43.
[12] Joshua 9:17; Joshua 15:9; Joshua 15:60; 1 Samuel 6:20-21; 1 Samuel 7:2; Psalm 132:6; Judges 13:25; Deuteronomy 9:24; Zechariah 14:8.
[19] Job 21:5; Job 29:9; Proverbs 30:32; Judges 17:10.
[20] Judges 19:6; Judges 19:9; Ruth 3:7.
[21] Exodus 12:37; Genesis 34:29; 2 Chronicles 20:13.
[22] Judges 6:34.
[23] Genesis 49:17; Deuteronomy 33:22.
[24] Genesis 30:31.
[25] Judges 8:21; Judges 15:12; 2 Samuel 17:8; Psalm 26:9.
[27] Joshua 11:13; Joshua 6:24; 1 Chronicles 4:1; Revelation 7:4; 2 Chronicles 2:14; 1 Chronicles 27:22.
[28] Numbers 13:21; Judges 1:31; Joshua 19:30; 2 Samuel 10:6.
[30] 1 Kings 12:30; Judges 17:2; Judges 17:13; Revelation 7:4; Exodus 2:22; Judges 20:28; 1 Chronicles 23:15-16; 1 Chronicles 5:22; 1 Kings 12:33; 1 Samuel 4:21-22; 1 Samuel 4:11; 1 Samuel 4:22; 1 Samuel 14:47.
[31] 1 Samuel 4:3; 1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1; 2 Chronicles 16:4.
-- From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]
HARMONY OF THE LAW
HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES
Judges Detailed Outline
Judges 18
Note: The Book of Judges teaches Israel's unfaithfulness. (The previous book, The Book of Joshua, teaches the Lord's faithfulness.)
Note: Some of the Judges may overlap each other chronologically and may have served in only part of the country.
1. The Historical Setting (1:1 - 3:6) - (1390 - 1377 B.C. Israel)
A. The Present Setting [in the Time of the Judges - This is the Second Campaign of Judah] (1:1-7)
B. The Past Setting [in Joshua's Time - First Campaigns of 6 Tribes] (1:8 - 3:6)
2. The History of the Judges (3:7 - 16:31) - (1377 - 1055 B.C. Israel)
3. The Historical Retrospective (17:1 - 21:25) - (1387 - 1377 B.C. Israel)
Note: This section is a cyclical return to the beginning of the Judges period.
It gives 2 striking illustrations of the religious and moral decay of the times.
A. Religious Decay: The Danites (17:1 - 18:31)
B. Moral Decay: The Benjamites (19:1 - 21:25)
1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
2 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.
3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who bought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate [none possessing authority] in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
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.
12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
13 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
15 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him [asked of his peace].
16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
20 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
23 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
24 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
25 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry [bitter of soul] fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captiviy of the land.
31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
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