7The next day the five men left. When they came to Laish city, they saw that the people there lived safely, like the people in Sidon city did. The people there thought that they were safe/protected from any enemies, and they had plenty of good fertile land. They lived very far from the people of Sidon, so the people of Sidon would not be able to help defend/protect them. They had no other ◄allies/groups nearby that would help them in battles►.
8When those five men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them “What did you find out?”
9They replied, “We have found some land, and it is very good. We should go and attack the people who live there. Why are you staying here and doing nothing RHQ? Do not wait any longer! We should go immediately and take possession of that land!
10When you go there, you will see that there is plenty of land, and it has everything that we will need. The people there are not expecting anyone to attack them. Surely God is giving that land to us.”
11So six hundred men from the tribe of Dan left Zorah and Eshtaol, carrying their weapons.
12On their way they set up their tents near Kiriath-Jearim city in the area where the tribe of Judah lives. That is why the area west of Kiriath-Jearim was named ❛Camp of Dan❜, and that is still its name.
13From there, they went to the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim lives. And they arrived at Micah's house.
14The five men who had explored the land near Laish said to their fellow Israelis, “Do you know that in one of these houses there is a sacred vest, several idols, and a statue? We think that you know what you should do.” RHQ
15So they went to the house where the man from the tribe of Levi lived, which was the house where Micah lived, and they greeted the young man from the tribe of Levi who had become Micah's priest.
16The six hundred men of the tribe of Dan stood outside the gate of the house, carrying their weapons.
17The five men who had explored the land went into Micah's house, and took all the idols, the sacred vest, and the statue. While they did that, the six hundred men stood outside the gate, talking with the priest.
18When the priest saw them bringing out the idols and the sacred vest and the statue, he said to them, “What are you doing?”
19They replied, “Be quiet! Do not say anything! You come with us and be like a father to us and a priest for us. Is it better for you to stay here and be a priest for the people in the house of one man, or to be a priest for a clan, and a priest for a whole tribe of Israelis?” RHQ
Judges 18
Judges 18:7-19