17. Then the five men who had gone to scout out the land went in and took the carved image overlaid with silver, the ephod, and the household idols, while the priest was standing by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.
18. When they entered Micah’s house and took the carved image overlaid with silver, the ephod, and the household idols, the priest said to them, “What are you doing? ”
19. They told him, “Be quiet. Keep your mouth shut. Come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or for you to be a priest for a tribe and family in Israel? ”
20. So the priest was pleased and took his ephod, household idols, and carved image, and went with the people.
21. They prepared to leave, putting their small children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.
22. After they were some distance from Micah’s house, the men who were in the houses near it mobilized and caught up with the Danites.
23. They called to the Danites, who turned to face them, and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you mobilized the men? ”
24. He said, “You took the gods I had made and the priest, and went away. What do I have left? How can you say to me, ‘What’s the matter with you? ’ ”
25. The Danites said to him, “Don’t raise your voice against us, or angry men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.”
26. The Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were stronger than he was.
27. After they had taken the gods Micah had made and the priest that belonged to him, they went to Laish, to a quiet and unsuspecting people. They killed them with their swords and burned down the city.
28. There was no one to rescue them because it was far from Sidon and they had no alliance with anyone. It was in a valley that belonged to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it.
29. They named the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel. The city was formerly named Laish.
30. The Danites set up the carved image for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the Danite tribe until the time of the exile from the land.
31. So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image that he had made, and it was there as long as the house of God was in Shiloh.