6. “Don't worry,” answered the priest. “The Lord is pleased with what you are doing.”
7. The five men left and went to the town of Laish, whose people were from Sidon, but Sidon was too far away to protect them. Even though their town had no walls, the people thought they were safe from attack. So they had not asked anyone else for protection, which meant that the tribe of Dan could easily take over Laish.
8. The five men went back to Zorah and Eshtaol, where their relatives asked, “Did you find any land?”
9-10. “Let's go!” the five men said. “We saw some very good land with enough room for all of us, and it has everything we will ever need. What are you waiting for? Let's attack and take it. You'll find that the people think they're safe, but God is giving the land to us.”
11. Six hundred men from the tribe of Dan strapped on their weapons and left Zorah and Eshtaol with their families.
12. One night they camped near Kiriath-Jearim in the territory of Judah, and that's why the place just west of Kiriath-Jearim is still known as Dan's Camp.
13. Then they went into the hill country of Ephraim.When they came close to Micah's house,
14. the five men who had been spies asked the other warriors, “Did you know that someone in this village has several idols and a sacred priestly apron? What do you think we should do about it?”
15-18. The six hundred warriors left the road and went to the house on Micah's property where the young Levite priest lived. They stood at the gate and greeted the priest. Meanwhile, the five men who had been there before went into Micah's house and took the sacred priestly apron and the idols.“Hey!” the priest shouted. “What do you think you're doing?”
19. “Quiet!” the men said. “Keep your mouth shut and listen. Why don't you come with us and be our priest, so you can tell us what God wants us to do? You could stay here and be a priest for one man's family, but wouldn't you rather be the priest for a clan or even a whole tribe of Israel?”
20. The priest really liked that idea. So he took the apron and the idols and joined the others
21. from the tribe of Dan. Then they turned and left, after putting their children, their cattle, and the rest of their other possessions in front.
22. They had travelled for some time, before Micah asked his neighbours to help him get his things back. He and his men caught up with the people of Dan
23. and shouted for them to stop.They turned to face him and asked, “What's wrong? Why did you bring all these men?”
24. Micah answered, “You know what's wrong. You stole the gods I made, and you took my priest. I don't have anything left.”