30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
30 And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses,
30 The Danites set up the god-figure for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his descendants were priests to the tribe of Dan down to the time of the land's captivity.
30 Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
30 Then they set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile.
31 They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.
31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
31 So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
31 All during the time that there was a sanctuary of God in Shiloh, they kept for their private use the god-figure that Micah had made.
31 So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
31 So Micah's carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.
The Danites seek to enlarge their inheritance, and rob Micah.
The Danites determined to take Micah's gods with them. Oh the folly of these Danites! How could they imagine those gods should protect them, that could not keep themselves from being stolen! To take them for their own use, was a double crime; it showed they neither feared God, nor regarded man, but were lost both to godliness and honesty. What a folly was it for Micah to call those his gods, which he had made, when He only is to be worshipped by us as God, that made us! That is put in God's place, which we are concerned about, as if our all were bound up in it. If people will walk in the name of their false gods, much more should we love and serve the true God!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 18:30
Chapter Contents
The Danites seek to enlarge their inheritance, and rob Micah.
The Danites determined to take Micah's gods with them. Oh the folly of these Danites! How could they imagine those gods should protect them, that could not keep themselves from being stolen! To take them for their own use, was a double crime; it showed they neither feared God, nor regarded man, but were lost both to godliness and honesty. What a folly was it for Micah to call those his gods, which he had made, when He only is to be worshipped by us as God, that made us! That is put in God's place, which we are concerned about, as if our all were bound up in it. If people will walk in the name of their false gods, much more should we love and serve the true God!