士18:1 在那些日子，以色列中没有王。那时，但支派还在寻找可居住的地业，因为直到那一天，在以色列的众支派中，但支派仍没有得着地业。
士18:1 In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the Danites were looking for a heritage for themselves, to be their living-place; for up to that time no distribution of land had been made to them among the tribes of Israel.
士18:2 于是但人从琐拉和以实陶，差派他们家族中的五个勇士，去窥探查察那地，对他们说：“你们去查察那地吧。”他们来到以法莲山地，进了米迦的家，就在那里住宿。
士18:2 So the children of Dan sent five men from among their number, strong men, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to take a look at the land and make a search through it; and they said to them, Go and make a search through the land; and they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, where they made a stop for the night.
士18:3 他们在米迦的家附近，认出那青年利未人的口音来，就过去他那里问他：“谁带你到这里来？你在这里作什么？你在这里有什么？”
士18:3 When they were near the house of Micah, hearing a voice which was not strange to them, that of the young Levite, they went out of their road to his place, and said to him, How did you come here? and what are you doing in this place? and why are you here?
士18:4 他回答他们：“米迦如此这般待我；他雇了我，我就作了他的祭司。”
士18:4 And he said to them, This is what Micah did for me, and he gave me payment and I became his priest.
士18:5 他们对他说：“请你求问 神，使我们知道我们要走的道路是否顺利。”
士18:5 Then they said, Do get directions from God for us, to see if the journey on which we are going will have a good outcome.
士18:6 祭司对他们说：“你们平安地去吧，你们要走的道路是蒙耶和华悦纳的。”
士18:6 And the priest said to them, Go in peace: your way is guided by the Lord.
士18:7 于是那五个人离开了，来到拉亿，看见那里的人民安然居住，好像西顿人一样，生活平静安稳；在那地又没有人掌权，使他们受屈辱；他们离西顿人也很远，也没有与别人来往。
士18:7 Then the five men went on their way and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, living without thought of danger, like the Zidonians, quiet and safe; for they had everything on earth for their needs, and they were far from the Zidonians and had no business with Aram.
士18:8 他们回到琐拉和以实陶自己的族人那里去；族人问他们：“你们有什么话说？”
士18:8 So they came back to their brothers in Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, What news have you?
士18:9 他们回答：“起来，我们上去攻击他们吧。因为我们已经看过那地，见那地十分美好，你们还静坐不动吗？不可再迟延，要赶快去取得那地。
士18:9 And they said, Up! and let us go against Laish; for we have seen the land, and it is very good: why are you doing nothing? Do not be slow to go in and take the land for your heritage.
士18:10 你们到了那里的时候，你们必遇见安然居住的人民；那地的两边宽阔， 神已经把那地交在你们手里；那地百物俱全，一无所缺。”
士18:10 When you come there you will come to a people living without thought of danger; and the land is wide, and God has given it into your hands: a place where there is everything on earth for man's needs.
士18:11 于是但人的家族中有六百人，带着兵器从那里出发，就是从琐拉和以实陶出发。
士18:11 So six hundred men of the Danites from Zorah and Eshtaol went out armed with instruments of war.
士18:12 他们上去，在犹大的基列．耶琳安营；因此人把那地方叫作玛哈尼．但（“玛哈尼．但”意即“但的军营”），直到现在；这地方是在基列．耶琳的西边。
士18:12 And they went up and put up their tents in Kiriath-jearim in Judah: so that place is named Mahaneh-dan to this day. It is to the west of Kiriath-jearim.
士18:13 他们从那里经过，往以法莲山地去，来到米迦的家。
士18:13 From there they went on to the hill-country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
士18:14 从前去窥探拉亿地的五个人，对他们的族人说：“这些屋子里有以弗得、神像、雕像和铸像，你们知道吗？现在你们要考虑一下应该怎样行。”
士18:14 Then the five men who had gone to make a search through the country of Laish, said to their brothers, Have you knowledge that in these houses there is an ephod and family gods and a pictured image and a metal image? So now you see what to do.
士18:15 于是他们五人转身，进入米迦的家，来到那青年利未人的屋里，向他问安。
士18:15 And turning from their road they came to the house of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and said to him, Is it well with you?
士18:16 那六百但人，带着兵器，都站在门口。
士18:16 And the six hundred armed men of the Danites took their places by the doorway.
士18:17 从前去窥探那地的五个人上前，进入里面，把雕像、以弗得、神像和铸像都拿去了；祭司和带着兵器的六百人都站在门口。
士18:17 Then the five men who had gone to make a search through the land, went in and took the pictured image and the ephod and the family gods and the metal image; and the priest was by the doorway with the six hundred armed men.
士18:18 当那五个人进了米迦的家，拿走雕像、以弗得、神像和铸像的时候，祭司就问他们：“你们作什么呢？”
士18:18 And when they went into Micah's house and took out the pictured image and the ephod and the family gods and the metal image, the priest said to them, What are you doing?
士18:19 他们回答他：“不要出声，用手掩着你的嘴，跟我们走吧，好作我们的师父和祭司。你作一家的祭司好呢？还是作以色列中一个支派一个家族的祭司好呢？”
士18:19 And they said to him, Be quiet; say nothing, and come with us and be our father and priest; is it better for you to be priest to one man's house or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?
士18:20 祭司心里高兴，就拿着以弗得、神像和雕像，来到众人中间。
士18:20 Then the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod and the family gods and the pictured image and went with the people.
士18:21 他们就转身离去，把妇孺和牲畜，以及财物，都放在前面。
士18:21 So they went on their way again, putting the little ones and the oxen and the goods in front of them.
士18:22 他们离开米迦的家很远的时候，在米迦的家附近各家的人，都被召集出来，去追赶但人。
士18:22 When they had gone some way from the house of Micah, the men from the houses near Micah's house came together and overtook the children of Dan,
士18:23 他们呼叫但人；但人转过脸来，问米迦：“你召集了这么多人出来作什么？”
士18:23 Crying out to them. And the Danites, turning round, said to Micah, What is your trouble, that you have taken up arms?
士18:24 米迦回答：“你们把我所做的神像和我的祭司都带走了，我还有什么呢？你们怎么还问我：‘你作什么’呢？”
士18:24 And he said, You have taken my gods which I made, and my priest, and have gone away; what is there for me now? Why then do you say to me, What is your trouble?
士18:25 但人对米迦说：“不要再让我们听见你的声音，恐怕有暴躁的人攻击你们，以致你和你全家尽都丧失性命。”
士18:25 And the children of Dan said to him, Say no more, or men of bitter spirit may make an attack on you, causing loss of your life and the lives of your people.
士18:26 但人继续走他们的路；米迦见他们比自己强，就转身回自己的家去了。
士18:26 Then the children of Dan went on their way; and when Micah saw that they were stronger than he, he went back to his house.
士18:27 但人把米迦所做的神像和他的祭司都带走，他们来到拉亿，去到平静安居的人民那里，就用刀剑击杀了他们，又用火烧了那城。
士18:27 And they took that which Micah had made, and his priest, and came to Laish, to a people living quietly and without thought of danger, and they put them to the sword without mercy, burning down their town.
士18:28 没有人搭救，因为离西顿很远，他们又与别人没有来往。这城位于靠近伯．利合的山谷中。但人重建那城，住在其中。
士18:28 And they had no saviour, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with Aram; and it was in the valley which is the property of Beth-rehob. And building up the town again they took it for their living-place.
士18:29 按着他们的祖宗，以色列所生的儿子但的名字，给那城起名叫但；其实那城原先的名字叫拉亿。
士18:29 And they gave the town the name of Dan, after Dan their father, who was the son of Israel: though the town had been named Laish at first.
士18:30 但人就为自己把那雕像立起来；摩西的孙子、革顺的儿子约拿单和他的子孙，都作了但支派的祭司，直到那地遭受掳掠的日子。
士18:30 (And the children of Dan put up the pictured image for themselves; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of the Danites till the day when the ark was taken prisoner.)
士18:31 神的殿在示罗有多少日子，但人为自己设立米迦所做的雕像也有多少日子。
士18:31 And they put up for themselves the image which Micah had made, and it was there all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.