Judges 18:20-25

Judges 18:20

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

The offer met with hearty approval by the Levite so he took the ephod along with the idols and went into the midst of the six hundred which was probably the safest place at that time.  When the priests bore the Ark in old times, they bore it in the middle of the people and maybe this is what the Levite was patterning himself after.

Judges 18:21

So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

So now once they had the Levite in the middle, they now turned and departed toward the city of Laish.  This is the first mention of the fact that they brought their families with them in hopes that when they take the city, they would immediately take possession and begin to live there and in the surrounding areas with their families.  The word “carriage” may also be understood as “wealth or valuables.”  They put them in the front in case Micah should pursue them from the rear, this way they would be safe because they would have to go through six hundred armed men to get to them.

Judges 18:22

And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

Once Micah had found out that his Levite was missing with the ephod and all the idols, he then mustered a small army probably from his own household along with some of the neighbors.  Since they were all probably on horseback, they were able to catch up with the children of Dan quickly since they had to travel slower having their families with them along with cattle and some heavy valuables.

Judges 18:23

And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

Once Micah’s band had caught up with the Danites, they called out to them.  The Danites turned around and asked Micah what was the problem since he showed up with such a big assembly of men.  The Danites wanted to make sure that Micah was not planning to attack them.

Judges 18:24

And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?

He then lays out a litany of his objections to them.  They took his priest along with all his gods and then left his home and his home was left with none of the protections that he previously had.  Then he says to them after taking all this from me, you ask me what the problem is and why I am pursuing you?

Judges 18:25

And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.