1. In those days there is no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danite is seeking for itself an inheritance to inhabit, for [that] hath not fallen to it unto that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel by inheritance.
2. And the sons of Dan send, out of their family, five men of them, men, sons of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to traverse the land, and to search it, and they say unto them, `Go, search the land;' and they come into the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodge there.
3. They [are] with the household of Micah, and they have discerned the voice of the young man, the Levite, and turn aside there, and say to him, `Who hath brought thee hither? and what art thou doing in this [place?] and what to thee here?'
4. And he saith unto them, `Thus and thus hath Micah done to me; and he hireth me, and I am to him for a priest.'
5. And they say to him, `Ask, we pray thee, at God, and we know whether our way is prosperous on which we are going.'
6. And the priest saith to them, `Go in peace; over-against Jehovah [is] your way in which ye go.'
7. And the five men go, and come in to Laish, and see the people which [is] in its midst, dwelling confidently, according to the custom of Zidonians, quiet and confident; and there is none putting to shame in the land in [any] thing, possessingrestraint, and they [are] far off from the Zidonians, and have no word with [any] man.
8. And they come in unto their brethren, at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren say to them, `What--ye?'
9. And they say, `Rise, and we go up against them, for we have seen the land, and lo, very good; and ye are keeping silent! be not slothful to go--to enter to possess the land.
10. When ye go, ye come in unto a people confident, and the land [is] large on both hands, for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything which [is] in the land.'
11. And there journey thence, of the family of the Danite, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.
12. And they go up and encamp in Kirjath-Jearim, in Judah, therefore they have called that place, `Camp of Dan,' till this day; lo, behind Kirjath-Jearim.
13. And they pass over thence [to] the hill-country of Ephraim, and come in unto the house of Micah.
14. And the five men, those going to traverse the land of Laish, answer and say unto their brethren, `Have ye known that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and graven image, and molten image? and now, know what ye do.'
15. And they turn aside thither, and come in unto the house of the young man the Levite, the house of Micah, and ask of him of welfare, --
16. (and the six hundred men girded with their weapons of war, who [are] of the sons of Dan, are standing at the opening of the gate), --