1. In those days there was no king in Israel.And in those days the tribe of the Danites was looking for an inheritance in which to live, for no territory had come into their possession among the tribes of Israel up to that time.
2. So the children of Dan sent out from their families five valorous men from Zorah and Eshtaol in order to spy out and explore the land. They said to them, “Go, explore the land.”They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they spent the night there.
3. When they were at the house of Micah, they noticed the speech of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?”
4. He told them what Micah had done for him, saying, “He hired me, and I became his priest.”
5. They said to him, “Please ask God if we may know whether our mission will be a success as we go to do it.”
6. The priest said to them, “Go in peace. The Lord is watching the way you are going.”
7. The five men went away and came to Laish. They saw the people who were there, living securely according to the culture of the Sidonians. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians and had no ties with anyone.
8. When they came back to their brothers in Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, “What do you have to say?”
9. They said, “Get up! Let us go up against them, for we have seen the land. It is very good. You are silent, but do not hesitate to go to take the land.