1In those days there was no melekh in Yisra’el; and in those days the tribe of the Dani sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day there had nothing been allotted unto them among the tribes of Yisra’el for an inheritance.
2And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Tzorah, and from Eshta’ol, 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 Efrayim, unto the house of Mikhah, and lodged there. 3When they were by the house of Mikhah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levi; and they turned aside there, and said unto him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” 4And he said unto them, “Thus and thus has Mikhah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I am become his kohen.” 5And they said unto him, “Ask counsel, we pray, of Elohim, that we may know whether our way which we are going shall be prosperous.” 6And the kohen said unto them, “Go in shalom; before יהוה is your way wherein you go.”
7Then the five men departed, and came to Layeshah, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Tzidonim, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put them to shame in any thing, and they were far from the Tzidonim, and had no dealings with any man. 8And they came unto their brethren to Tzorah and Eshta’ol; and their brethren said unto them, “What do you say?” 9And they said, “Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good; and are you still? Do not be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land. 10When you go, you shall come unto a people secure, and the land is large; for Elohim has given it into your hand; a place where there is no want; it has every thing that is in the earth.” 11And there set forth from there of the family of the Dani, out of Tzorah and out of Eshta’ol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war. 12And they went up, and encamped in Kiriyat Ye’arim, in Yehudah; therefore that place was called Makhaneh Dan unto this day; behold, it is behind Kiriyat Ye’arim. 13And they passed there unto the hill country of Efrayim, and came unto the house of Mikhah. 14Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Layeshah, and said unto their brethren, “Do you know that there is in these houses an efod, and terafim, and a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you have to do.” 15And they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Levi, even unto the house of Mikhah, and asked him of his welfare. 16And the six hundred men girded with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the graven image, and the efod, and the terafim, and the molten image; and the kohen stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girded with weapons of war. 18And when these went into the house of Mikhah, and fetched the graven image of the efod, and the terafim, and the molten image, the kohen said unto them, “What are you doing?” 19And they said unto him, “Hold your peace, lay your hand upon your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a kohen; is it better for you to be kohen unto the house of one man, or to be kohen unto a tribe and a family in Yisra’el?” 20And the kohen’s heart was glad, and he took the efod, and the terafim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. 21So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them. 22When they were a good way from the house of Mikhah, the men that were in the houses near to the house of Mikhah were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. 23And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Mikhah, “What ails you, that you come with such a company?” 24And he said, “You have taken away my god which I made, and the kohen, and are gone away, and what have I more? And how then say you unto me, ‘What ails you’?” 25And the children of Dan said unto him, “Let not your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household.” 26And the children of Dan went their way; and when Mikhah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house. 27And they took that which Mikhah had made, and the kohen whom he had, and came unto Layeshah, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire. 28And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Tzidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lies by Beit Rekhov. And they built the city, and dwelt therein. 29And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Yisra’el; howbeit the name of the city was Layeshah at the first. 30And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Yonatan Ben Gershom, Ben Menasheh, he and his sons were kohanim to the tribe of the Dani until the day of the captivity of the land. 31So they set them up Mikhah’s graven image which he made, all the time that the Beit HaElohim was in Shiloh.
אבַּיָּמִים הָהֵם אֵין מֶלֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל; וּבַיָּמִים הָהֵם שֵׁבֶט הַדָּנִי מְבַקֶּשׁ לוֹ נַחֲלָה לָשֶׁבֶת כִּי לֹא נָפְלָה לּוֹ עַד הַיּוֹם הַהוּא בְּתוֹךְ שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּנַחֲלָה.
בוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ בְנֵי דָן מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתָּם חֲמִשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים מִקְצוֹתָם אֲנָשִׁים בְּנֵי חַיִל מִצָּרְעָה וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹל לְרַגֵּל אֶת הָאָרֶץ וּלְחָקְרָהּ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם לְכוּ חִקְרוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ; וַיָּבֹאוּ הַר אֶפְרַיִם עַד בֵּית מִיכָה וַיָּלִינוּ שָׁם. גהֵמָּה עִם בֵּית מִיכָה וְהֵמָּה הִכִּירוּ אֶת קוֹל הַנַּעַר הַלֵּוִי; וַיָּסוּרוּ שָׁם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ מִי הֱבִיאֲךָ הֲלֹם וּמָה אַתָּה עֹשֶׂה בָּזֶה וּמַה לְּךָ פֹה. דוַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם כָּזֹה וְכָזֶה עָשָׂה לִי מִיכָה; וַיִּשְׂכְּרֵנִי וָאֱהִי לוֹ לְכֹהֵן. הוַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ שְׁאַל נָא בֵאלֹהִים; וְנֵדְעָה הֲתַצְלִחַ דַּרְכֵּנוּ אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ הֹלְכִים עָלֶיהָ. ווַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַכֹּהֵן לְכוּ לְשָׁלוֹם; נֹכַח יהוה דַּרְכְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ בָהּ.
זוַיֵּלְכוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיָּבֹאוּ לָיְשָׁה; וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבָּהּ יוֹשֶׁבֶת לָבֶטַח כְּמִשְׁפַּט צִדֹנִים שֹׁקֵט וּבֹטֵחַ וְאֵין מַכְלִים דָּבָר בָּאָרֶץ יוֹרֵשׁ עֶצֶר וּרְחוֹקִים הֵמָּה מִצִּידֹנִים וְדָבָר אֵין לָהֶם עִם אָדָם. חוַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל אֲחֵיהֶם צָרְעָה וְאֶשְׁתָּאֹל; וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהֶם אֲחֵיהֶם מָה אַתֶּם. טוַיֹּאמְרוּ קוּמָה וְנַעֲלֶה עֲלֵיהֶם כִּי רָאִינוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה טוֹבָה מְאֹד; וְאַתֶּם מַחְשִׁים אַל תֵּעָצְלוּ לָלֶכֶת לָבֹא לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת הָאָרֶץ. יכְּבֹאֲכֶם תָּבֹאוּ אֶל עַם בֹּטֵחַ וְהָאָרֶץ רַחֲבַת יָדַיִם כִּי נְתָנָהּ אֱלֹהִים בְּיֶדְכֶם : מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֵין שָׁם מַחְסוֹר כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ. יאוַיִּסְעוּ מִשָּׁם מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת הַדָּנִי מִצָּרְעָה וּמֵאֶשְׁתָּאֹל שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ חָגוּר כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה. יבוַיַּעֲלוּ וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּקִרְיַת יְעָרִים בִּיהוּדָה; עַל כֵּן קָרְאוּ לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא מַחֲנֵה דָן עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הִנֵּה אַחֲרֵי קִרְיַת יְעָרִים. יגוַיַּעַבְרוּ מִשָּׁם הַר אֶפְרָיִם; וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד בֵּית מִיכָה. ידוַיַּעֲנוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים הַהֹלְכִים לְרַגֵּל אֶת הָאָרֶץ לַיִשׁ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל אֲחֵיהֶם הַיְדַעְתֶּם כִּי יֵשׁ בַּבָּתִּים הָאֵלֶּה אֵפוֹד וּתְרָפִים וּפֶסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה; וְעַתָּה דְּעוּ מַה תַּעֲשׂוּ. טווַיָּסוּרוּ שָׁמָּה וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל בֵּית הַנַּעַר הַלֵּוִי בֵּית מִיכָה; וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ לוֹ לְשָׁלוֹם. טזוְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ חֲגוּרִים כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתָּם נִצָּבִים פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר אֲשֶׁר מִבְּנֵי דָן. יזוַיַּעֲלוּ חֲמֵשֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁים הַהֹלְכִים לְרַגֵּל אֶת הָאָרֶץ בָּאוּ שָׁמָּה לָקְחוּ אֶת הַפֶּסֶל וְאֶת הָאֵפוֹד וְאֶת הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת הַמַּסֵּכָה; וְהַכֹּהֵן נִצָּב פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת הָאִישׁ הֶחָגוּר כְּלֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה. יחוְאֵלֶּה בָּאוּ בֵּית מִיכָה וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת פֶּסֶל הָאֵפוֹד וְאֶת הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת הַמַּסֵּכָה; וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם הַכֹּהֵן מָה אַתֶּם עֹשִׂים. יטוַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ הַחֲרֵשׁ שִׂים יָדְךָ עַל פִּיךָ וְלֵךְ עִמָּנוּ וֶהְיֵה לָנוּ לְאָב וּלְכֹהֵן: הֲטוֹב הֱיוֹתְךָ כֹהֵן לְבֵית אִישׁ אֶחָד אוֹ הֱיוֹתְךָ כֹהֵן לְשֵׁבֶט וּלְמִשְׁפָּחָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. כוַיִּיטַב לֵב הַכֹּהֵן וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָאֵפוֹד וְאֶת הַתְּרָפִים וְאֶת הַפָּסֶל; וַיָּבֹא בְּקֶרֶב הָעָם. כאוַיִּפְנוּ וַיֵּלֵכוּ; וַיָּשִׂימוּ אֶת הַטַּף וְאֶת הַמִּקְנֶה וְאֶת הַכְּבוּדָּה לִפְנֵיהֶם. כבהֵמָּה הִרְחִיקוּ מִבֵּית מִיכָה; וְהָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר בַּבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר עִם בֵּית מִיכָה נִזְעֲקוּ וַיַּדְבִּיקוּ אֶת בְּנֵי דָן. כגוַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל בְּנֵי דָן וַיַּסֵּבּוּ פְּנֵיהֶם; וַיֹּאמְרוּ לְמִיכָה מַה לְּךָ כִּי נִזְעָקְתָּ. כדוַיֹּאמֶר אֶת אֱלֹהַי אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי לְקַחְתֶּם וְאֶת הַכֹּהֵן וַתֵּלְכוּ וּמַה לִּי עוֹד; וּמַה זֶּה תֹּאמְרוּ אֵלַי מַה לָּךְ. כהוַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו בְּנֵי דָן אַל תַּשְׁמַע קוֹלְךָ עִמָּנוּ פֶּן יִפְגְּעוּ בָכֶם אֲנָשִׁים מָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּה נַפְשְׁךָ וְנֶפֶשׁ בֵּיתֶךָ. כווַיֵּלְכוּ בְנֵי דָן לְדַרְכָּם; וַיַּרְא מִיכָה כִּי חֲזָקִים הֵמָּה מִמֶּנּוּ וַיִּפֶן וַיָּשָׁב אֶל בֵּיתוֹ. כזוְהֵמָּה לָקְחוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה מִיכָה וְאֶת הַכֹּהֵן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה לוֹ וַיָּבֹאוּ עַל לַיִשׁ עַל עַם שֹׁקֵט וּבֹטֵחַ וַיַּכּוּ אוֹתָם לְפִי חָרֶב; וְאֶת הָעִיר שָׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ. כחוְאֵין מַצִּיל כִּי רְחוֹקָה הִיא מִצִּידוֹן וְדָבָר אֵין לָהֶם עִם אָדָם וְהִיא בָּעֵמֶק אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית רְחוֹב; וַיִּבְנוּ אֶת הָעִיר וַיֵּשְׁבוּ בָהּ. כטוַיִּקְרְאוּ שֵׁם הָעִיר דָּן בְּשֵׁם דָּן אֲבִיהֶם אֲשֶׁר יוּלַּד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל; וְאוּלָם לַיִשׁ שֵׁם הָעִיר לָרִאשֹׁנָה. לוַיָּקִימוּ לָהֶם בְּנֵי דָן אֶת הַפָּסֶל; וִיהוֹנָתָן בֶּן גֵּרְשֹׁם בֶּן מְנַשֶּׁה הוּא וּבָנָיו הָיוּ כֹהֲנִים לְשֵׁבֶט הַדָּנִי עַד יוֹם גְּלוֹת הָאָרֶץ. לאוַיָּשִׂימוּ לָהֶם אֶת פֶּסֶל מִיכָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה כָּל יְמֵי הֱיוֹת בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים בְּשִׁלֹה.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 