7. Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they dwelt securely after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and feeling safe; and there was no magistrate in the land, who might put them to shame in anything or injure them; and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
8. The five men came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, What do you say?
9. They said, Arise, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very fertile. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go and enter in and possess the land.
10. When you go, you will come to people [feeling] safe and secure. The land is broad [widely extended on all sides]; and God has given it into your hands–a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.
11. And there went from there of the tribe of the Danites, out of Zorah and Eshtaol, 600 men armed with weapons of war.
12. And they went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan [camp of Dan] to this day; it is west of Kiriath-jearim.
13. And they passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house.
14. Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish said to their brethren, Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod, teraphim, a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore, consider what you have to do.
15. And they turned in that direction and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and saluted him.
16. Now the 600 Danites with their weapons of war stood at Micah's gate.
17. And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up and entered the house and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war.
18. And when these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, What are you doing?
19. And they said to him, Be still, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and family in Israel?
20. And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, 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, the cattle, and the baggage in front of them.
22. When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were Micah's near neighbors were called out and overtook the Danites.
23. They shouted to the Danites, who turned and said to Micah, What ails you, that you come with such a company?
24. And he said, You take away my gods which I made and the priest, and go away; and what have I left? How can you say to me, What ails you?