18:1 In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the Danite tribe was looking for a place 1 to settle, because at that time they did not yet have a place to call their own among the tribes of Israel. 2 18:2 The Danites sent out from their whole tribe five representatives, 3 capable men 4 from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land.” They came to the Ephraimite hill country and spent the night at Micah’s house. 5
1 tn Heb “an inheritance.”
2 tn Heb “because there had not fallen to them by that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel an inheritance.”
3 tn Heb “The Danites sent from their tribe five men, from their borders.”
4 tn Heb “men, sons of strength.”
5 tn Heb “They came to the Ephraimite hill country, to Micah’s house, and spent the night there.”
6 tn See the note on the word “adviser” in 17:10.
7 tn Heb “Is it better for you to be priest for the house of one man or for you to be priest for a tribe, for a clan in Israel?”