New Living Translation

Judges 18:5-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

5. Then they said, “Ask God whether or not our journey will be successful.”

6. “Go in peace,” the priest replied. “For the lord is watching over your journey.”

7. So the five men went on to the town of Laish, where they noticed the people living carefree lives, like the Sidonians; they were peaceful and secure. The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.

8. When the men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, “What did you find?”

9. The men replied, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate to go and take possession of it.

10. When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!”

11. So 600 men from the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.

12. They camped at a place west of Kiriath-jearim in Judah, which is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.