士師記 18
1 那時，以色列中沒有王。但支派的人仍是尋地居住；因為到那日子，他們還沒有在以色列支派中得地為業。
In those days there was no king in Israel. The tribe of the descendants of Dan was looking for a territory to live in, for up to that day they had not received any inheritance from among the tribes of Israel.
2 但人從瑣拉和以實陶打發本族中的五個勇士，去仔細窺探那地，吩咐他們說：「你們去窺探那地。」他們來到以法蓮山地，進了米迦的住宅，就在那裏住宿。
The people of Dan sent five men from the whole number of their tribe, men who were experienced warriors from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to scout the land on foot, and to look it over. They said to them, “Go and look over the land.” They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they spent the night there.
3 他們臨近米迦的住宅，聽出那少年利未人的口音來，就進去問他說：「誰領你到這裏來？你在這裏做甚麼？你在這裏得甚麼？」
When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the speech of the young Levite. So they stopped and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”
4 他回答說：「米迦待我如此如此，請我作祭司。」
He said to them, “This is what Micah has done for me: He has hired me to become his priest.”
5 他們對他說：「請你求問上帝，使我們知道所行的道路通達不通達。」
They said to him, “Please seek the advice of God, so we may know whether the journey we are going on will be successful.”
6 祭司對他們說：「你們可以平平安安地去，你們所行的道路是在耶和華面前的。」
The priest said to them, “Go in peace. Yahweh will lead you in the way you should go.”
7 五人就走了，來到拉億，見那裏的民安居無慮，如同西頓人安居一樣。在那地沒有人掌權擾亂他們；他們離西頓人也遠，與別人沒有來往。
Then the five men left and came to Laish, and they saw that the people were living in safety, in the same way the Sidonians lived, undisturbed and secure. There was no one who conquered them or who oppressed them in any way in the land. They lived far away from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
8 五人回到瑣拉和以實陶，見他們的弟兄；弟兄問他們說：「你們有甚麼話？」
They returned to their tribe in Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, “What is your report?”
9 他們回答說：「起來，我們上去攻擊他們吧！我們已經窺探那地，見那地甚好。你們為何靜坐不動呢？要急速前往得那地為業，不可遲延。
They said, “Come! Let us attack them! We have seen the land and it is very good. Are you doing nothing? Do not be slow to attack and conquer the land.
10 你們到了那裏，必看見安居無慮的民，地也寬闊。上帝已將那地交在你們手中；那地百物俱全，一無所缺。」
When you go, you will come to a people who think they are secure, and the land is wide! God has given it to you—a place that does not lack anything in the land.”
11 於是但族中的六百人，各帶兵器，從瑣拉和以實陶前往，
Six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12 上到猶大的基列‧耶琳，在基列‧耶琳後邊安營。因此那地方名叫瑪哈尼‧但，直到今日。
They went up and camped at Kiriath Jearim, in Judah. This is why people called that place Mahaneh Dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath Jearim.
13 他們從那裏往以法蓮山地去，來到米迦的住宅。
They went away from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.
14 從前窺探拉億地的五個人對他們的弟兄說：「這宅子裏有以弗得和家中的神像，並雕刻的像與鑄成的像，你們知道嗎？現在你們要想一想當怎樣行。」
Then the five men who had gone to scout the country of Laish said to their relatives, “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved figure, and a cast metal figure? Decide now what you will do.”
15 五人就進入米迦的住宅，到了那少年利未人的房內問他好。
So they turned in there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the house of Micah, and they greeted him.
16 那六百但人各帶兵器，站在門口。
Now the six hundred Danites, armed with weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate.
17 窺探地的五個人走進去，將雕刻的像、以弗得、家中的神像，並鑄成的像，都拿了去。祭司和帶兵器的六百人，一同站在門口。
The five men who had gone to scout out the land went there and they took the carved figure, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast metal figure, while the priest stood by the opening of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
18 那五個人進入米迦的住宅，拿出雕刻的像、以弗得、家中的神像，並鑄成的像，祭司就問他們說：「你們做甚麼呢？」
When these went into Micah's house and took the carved figure, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast metal figure, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 他們回答說：「不要作聲，用手摀口，跟我們去吧！我們必以你為父、為祭司。你作一家的祭司好呢？還是作以色列一族一支派的祭司好呢？」
They said to him, “Be quiet! Put your hand on your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest for the house of one man, or to be priest for a tribe and a clan in Israel?”
20 祭司心裏喜悅，便拿着以弗得和家中的神像，並雕刻的像，進入他們中間。
The priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod, the household gods, and the carved figure, and went along with the people.
21 他們就轉身離開那裏，妻子、兒女、牲畜、財物都在前頭。
So they turned and went away. They put the small children in front of themselves, as well as the cattle and their possessions.
22 離米迦的住宅已遠，米迦的近鄰都聚集來，追趕但人，
When they were a good distance from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called together, and they caught up with the Danites.
23 呼叫但人。但人回頭問米迦說：「你聚集這許多人來做甚麼呢？」
They shouted to the Danites, and they turned and said to Micah, “Why have you been called together?”
24 米迦說：「你們將我所做的神像和祭司都帶了去，我還有所剩的嗎？怎麼還問我說『做甚麼』呢？」
He said, “You stole the gods that I made, you have taken my priest, and you are leaving. What else do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What is bothering you?'”
25 但人對米迦說：「你不要使我們聽見你的聲音，恐怕有性暴的人攻擊你，以致你和你的全家盡都喪命。」
The people of Dan said to him, “You should not let us hear you say anything, or some very angry men will attack you, and you and your family will be killed.”
26 但人還是走他們的路。米迦見他們的勢力比自己強盛，就轉身回家去了。
Then the people of Dan went their way. When Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
27 但人將米迦所做的神像和他的祭司都帶到拉億，見安居無慮的民，就用刀殺了那民，又放火燒了那城，
The people of Dan took what Micah had made, as well as his priest, and they came to Laish, to a people who were undisturbed and secure and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city.
28 並無人搭救；因為離西頓遠，他們又與別人沒有來往。城在平原，那平原靠近伯‧利合。但人又在那裏修城居住，
There was no one to rescue them because it was a long way from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that is near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and lived there.
29 照着他們始祖以色列之子但的名字，給那城起名叫但；原先那城名叫拉億。
They named the city Dan, the name of Dan their ancestor, who was one of Israel's sons. But the name of the city used to be Laish.
30 但人就為自己設立那雕刻的像。摩西的孫子、革舜的兒子約拿單，和他的子孫作但支派的祭司，直到那地遭擄掠的日子。
The people of Dan set up the carved figure for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, he and his sons were priests for the tribe of the Danites until the day of the land's captivity.
31 上帝的殿在示羅多少日子，但人為自己設立米迦所雕刻的像也在 但多少日子。
So they worshiped Micah's carved figure that he made as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
