16. The six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate.
17. The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance of the gate.
18. When the five men went into Micah’s house and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19. They answered him, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?”
20. The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people.
21. Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.
22. When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites.
23. As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?”
24. He replied, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ”