Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.

22. the men that were in the houses ] The sense is much improved by following the LXX behold Micaiah and the men that were etc. We need some mention of Micah joining the pursuit ( Jdg 18:23).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Were gathered together – literally, were called together. The men, who were all Micahs workmen, were probably in the fields with their master at the time of the robbery. When the women saw what was done they gave the alarm, and Micah called the men together as quickly as possible, and pursued the Danites and overtook them.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

22-26. the men that were in thehouses near to Micah’s house were gathered togetherThe robbersof the chapel being soon detected, a hot pursuit was forthwithcommenced by Micah, at the head of a considerable body of followers.The readiness with which they joined in the attempt to recover thestolen articles affords a presumption that the advantages of thechapel had been open to all in the neighborhood; and the importancewhich Micah, like Laban, attached to his teraphim, is seen by theurgency with which he pursued the thieves, and the risk of his lifein attempting to procure their restoration. Finding his party,however, not a match for the Danites, he thought it prudent todesist, well knowing the rule which was then prevalent in the land,that

“They should takewho had the power,

And they should keep whocould.”

Jud18:27-29. THEY WINLAISH.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And when they were a good way from the house of Micah,…. For it might be some time before Micah knew that his gods were stolen, and his priest was decoyed from him; and it must take up more time still to get his servants and neighbours together to pursue after those that injured him:

the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together; no doubt at the request of Micah, who informed them of what had happened to him: and they being not only his neighbours, but deeply involved in the same superstition and idolatry, and closely addicted to it, and to whom it might in some respects be advantageous at it brought people from various parts to worship, or to consult the oracle: these being got together in a body, pursued

and overtook the children of Dan; who were obliged to move but slowly, because of their wives, little ones, and heavy substance they carried with them.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The two clauses of Jdg 18:22 are circumstantial clauses: “ When they (the 600) had got to some distance from Micah’s house, and the men who were in the houses by Micah’s house were called together, and had overtaken the Danites, they (i.e., Micah and his people, whom he had called together from the neighbourhood to pursue the emigrants) called to the Danites; and they turned their faces, and said to Micah, What is to thee (what is the matter), that thou hast gathered together? ”

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

City of Dan, vs. 22-31

The whereabouts of Micah while the Danites were robbing him is not told in the record. It seems he must have been absent, though he may have waited until he-could raise a force to try to reclaim his gods. The migrating Danites had proceeded some distance on their way before they were overtaken by Micah and some of his neighbors, who probably worshipped at his god-house also.

Micah’s pursuing forces overtook the Danites screaming at them about their crime. The Danites, however, acted very innocent and naive in the matter. On the other hand, the anxiety and plea of Micah is somewhat humorous because of the whole ridiculous nature of it. It was not of course any ways humorous to Micah. Their theft of his. gods represented a great material loss to him.

The Danites asked Micah, “What ails you? following us with such a company,” just as though they had no idea what could be the matter with him. Micah complained that they had taken all that he had and gone away with it, stripped him to poverty, and they had the audacity to ask, “What ails you?” Then the Danites threatened Micah and his neighbors. They warned him to back off lest some forward man among the Danites attack and they be killed, and their households with them. Then, they turned and resumed their way.

Poor Micah! Poor godless Micah! Poor Godless Micah! He placed his hope, his trust, his confidence in these images of silver, thinking they could protect him when they could not even protect themselves. How foolish he was. He was not just then without a god. His gods were no gods, (Psa 115:4-9). He had been without God in his heart and life from the beginning. It was good that he lose these worthless gods, if it would awaken him to their uselessness and cause him to turn to the true God. Micah, however, saw he could not regain his gods from the Danites and returned homeward. Nothing more is known of him.

The Danites went on to Laish carrying Micah’s gods. It was a cowardly thing they did, attacking a little peaceful town who had no idea it had an enemy in the world. They put it to the sword and burned it to the ground. No one really cared about the people of Laish, for probably few outside of themselves knew they existed. The Danites leveled the place and built their own town, which they named Dan after their patriarchal, tribal father. It was to be the northernmost city in Israel. An expression arose in Israel, “From Dan to Beersheba,” meaning the whole of Israel. Dan was in the far north, Beersheba in the far south.

The Danites set up the idols of Micah and other paraphernalia in the city of Dan, where they remained and were worshipped throughout the period when other Israelites were worshipping at Shiloh, at the tabernacle, and even through the many centuries to the ultimate captivity of the land, about 721 B.C. Jonathan was installed as their priest, and his sons succeeded him. It is now revealed that Jonathan was the grandson of the great leader, Moses. The King James Version of our Bibles says “Manasseh,” but Scholars agree that the name of Moses had the letter nun ( English N) inserted by the copyists to protect the family of Moses from the scandal. However, the father of Jonathan was Gershom, the son of Moses. Sons of great men have often turned out to be very bad men.

Many lessons may be derived from this shameful episode in the history of Israel: 1) the easy way out of a problem is never right when it is not God’s way; in fact, God’s way is easier; 2) those who trust in material things for life will be left empty and deprived of those things; 3) those who take the empty things which have failed others are among the greatest of fools; 4) a bad start will never improve until men return and start over aright; it will lead even generations to false hope and eternal condemnation.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(22) A good way from the house of Micah.It took some time to raise the alarm and collect a sufficient force. The Beth-Micah was probably strong enough to resist any ordinary robbers, but no one could have expected a raid of 600 men. Yet they would easily overtake the Danites, because their march was delayed and encumbered with women, children, and cattle.

Were gathered together.See Jdg. 6:34.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

22. The men that were in houses near to Micah’s house These neighbours of Micah probably had an interest in his sanctuary and priest, and felt it no small blessing to have a Levitical minister and worship so near them. Hence their readiness to go with Micah to recover his gods and priest.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘ When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.’

Once Micah discovered that his sacred religious objects had been stolen he gathered as many of his servants and neighbours as he could and gave chase. He did not know for certain how many were in the party who had stolen them and carried off his priest. When he overtook them he probably had a very unpleasant surprise. He had not been expecting such a large force. He would gradually overtake them because they were hindered by their families and flocks and herds.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jdg 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.

Ver. 22. The men that were in the houses near to Micah’s.] The whole neighbourhood; and those were not a few, by reason of the idol temple there causing great resort, as now at Loretto and Sichem.

And overtook the children of Dan. ] Heb., Clave unto them, Conglutinati sunt cum filiis Dan, were even at the heels of them; Amor addidit alas.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)