Liber Iudicum, 18

1. In diebus illis non erat rex in Israel, et tribus Dan quaere bat possessionem sibi, ut habitaret in ea; usque ad illum enim diem inter ceteras tribus sortem non acceperat.

1. In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in; for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.

2. Miserunt igitur filii Dan stirpis et familiae suae quinque viros fortissimos de Saraa et Esthaol, ut explorarent terram et diligenter inspicerent, dixeruntque eis: “Ite et considerate terram”. Qui cum venissent in montem Ephraim usque ad domum Michae, pernoctaverunt ibi.

2. So the Danites sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Esh'ta-ol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, "Go and explore the land." And they came to the hill country of E'phraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

3. Cum essent prope domum Michae, agnoscentes vocem adulescentis Levitae declinaverant illuc dicentes ad eum: “Quis te huc adduxit? Quid hic agis? Quam ob causam huc venire voluisti?”.

3. When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; and they turned aside and said to him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?"

4. Qui respondit eis: “Haec et haec praestitit mihi Michas et me mercede conduxit, ut sim ei sacerdos”.

4. And he said to them, "Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest."

5. Rogaveruntque eum, ut consuleret Deum, ut scire possent an prospero itinere pergerent, et res haberet effectum.

5. And they said to him, "Inquire of God, we pray thee, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed."

6. Qui respondit eis: “Ite cum pace; Dominus respicit viam vestram et iter, quo pergitis”.

6. And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD."

7. Euntes itaque quinque viri venerunt Lais videruntque populum habitantem in ea absque ullo timore iuxta Sidoniorum consuetudinem, securum et quietum, nullo eis penitus resistente, magnarumque opum et procul a Sidoniis neque in societate cum Syria.

7. Then the five men departed, and came to La'ish, and saw the people who were there, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Sido'nians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing that is in the earth, and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sido'nians and had no dealings with any one.

8. Reversique ad fratres suos in Saraa et Esthaol et quid egissent sciscitantibus, responderunt:

8. And when they came to their brethren at Zorah and Esh'ta-ol, their brethren said to them, "What do you report?"

9. “Surgite, et ascendamus adversus eos. Vidimus enim terram valde opulentam et uberem, et vos neglegetis? Nolite cessare; eamus et possideamus eam.

9. They said, "Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very fertile. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, and enter in and possess the land.

10. Intrabimus ad securos in regionem latissimam; tradetque nobis Deus locum, in quo nullius rei est penuria eorum, quae sunt in terra”.

10. When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is broad; yea, God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth."

11. Profecti igitur sunt de cognatione Dan, de Saraa et Esthaol, sescenti viri accincti armis bellicis.

11. And six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set forth from Zorah and Esh'ta-ol,

12. Ascendentesque castrametati sunt in Cariathiarim Iudae, qui locus ex eo tempore Castrorum Dan nomen accepit et est post tergum Cariathiarim.

12. and went up and encamped at Kir'iath-je'arim in Judah. On this account that place is called Ma'haneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kir'iath-je'arim.

13. Inde transierunt in montem Ephraim. Cumque venissent usque ad domum Michae,

13. And they passed on from there to the hill country of E'phraim, and came to the house of Micah.

14. dixerunt quinque viri, qui prius missi fuerant ad considerandam terram Lais, fratribus suis: “Nostis quod in domibus istis sit ephod et theraphim et sculptile atque conflatile? Videte quid vobis placeat, ut faciatis”.

14. Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of La'ish said to their brethren, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, teraphim, a graven image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you will do."

15. Et, cum paululum declinassent, ingressi sunt domum adulescentis Levitae, domum Michae, salutaveruntque eum verbis pacificis.

15. And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

16. Sescenti autem viri, ita ut erant armati, stabant ante ostium.

16. Now the six hundred men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate;

17. At illi, qui ingressi fuerant domum iuvenis, sculptile et ephod et theraphim atque conflatile tulerunt; et sacerdos stabat ante ostium et sescenti viri armati.

17. and the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up, and entered and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.

18. Tulerunt igitur, qui intraverant domum, sculptile, ephod et theraphim atque conflatile. Quibus dixit sacerdos: “Quid facitis?”.

18. And when these went into Micah's house and took the graven image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"

19. Cui responderunt: “Tace et pone digitum super os tuum venique nobiscum, ut habeamus te patrem et sacerdotem. Quid tibi melius est, ut sis sacerdos in domo unius viri, an in una tribu et familia in Israel?”.

19. And they said to him, "Keep quiet, put your hand upon your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and family in Israel?"

20. Et gavisus est sacerdos tulitque ephod et theraphim ac sculptile et profectus est in medio populi.

20. And the priest's heart was glad; he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

21. Qui cum pergerent et ante se ire fecissent parvulos et iumenta et omne, quod erat pretiosum,

21. So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the cattle and the goods in front of them.

22. iamque a domo Michae essent procul, viri, qui habitabant in aedibus prope domum Michae, convocati secuti sunt filios Dan

22. When they were a good way from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the Danites.

23. et post tergum clamare coeperunt. Qui cum respexissent, dixerunt ad Micham: “Quid tibi vis? Cur concurritis?”.

23. And they shouted to the Danites, who turned round and said to Micah, "What ails you that you come with such a company?"

24. Qui respondit: “Deos meos, quos mihi feci, tulistis, et sacerdotem et omnia, quae habeo, et dicitis: “Quid tibi est?””.

24. And he said, "You take my gods which I made, and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, `What ails you?'"

25. Dixeruntque ei filii Dan: “Cave, ne ultra loquaris ad nos, et irruant in te viri animo concitati, et ipse cum omni domo tua pereas”.

25. And the Danites said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household."

26. Et sic, coepto itinere, perrexerunt. Videns autem Michas quod fortiores se essent, reversus est in domum suam.

26. Then the Danites went their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

27. Sescenti autem viri tulerunt, quod Michas fecerat, et sacerdotem eius veneruntque in Lais ad populum quiescentem atque securum et percusserunt eos in ore gladii urbemque incendio tradiderunt,

27. And taking what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, the Danites came to La'ish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and burned the city with fire.

28. nullo penitus ferente praesidium, eo quod procul habitarent a Sidone neque cum Syria haberent quidquam societatis ac negotii. Erat autem civitas sita in regione Rohob; quam rursum exstruentes habitaverunt in ea,

28. And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any one. It was in the valley which belongs to Beth-rehob. And they rebuilt the city, and dwelt in it.

29. vocato nomine civitatis Dan iuxta vocabulum patris sui, quem genuerat Israel, quae prius Lais dicebatur.

29. And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was La'ish at the first.

30. Posueruntque sibi sculptile; et Ionathan filius Gersam filii Moysi ac filii eius sacerdotes erant in tribu Dan usque ad diem captivitatis terrae;

30. And the Danites set up the graven image for themselves; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

31. mansitque apud eos idolum Michae omni tempore, quo fuit domus Dei in Silo.

31. So they set up Micah's graven image which he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.