Teks -- Judges 18:2 (NET)

18:2 The Danites sent out from their whole tribe five representatives, capable men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land.” They came to the Ephraimite hill country and spent the night at Micah’s house.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Jdg 18:2 - There

Not in the same house, but near it.

JFB: Jdg 18:1-6 - In those days . . . the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in

The Danites had a territory assigned them as well as the other tribes. But either through indolence, or a lack of energy, they did not acquire the full possession of their allotment, but suffered a considerable portion of it to be wrested out of their hands by the encroachments of their powerful neighbors, the Philistines. In consequence, being straitened for room, a considerable number resolved on trying to effect a new and additional settlement in a remote part of the land. A small deputation, being despatched to reconnoitre the country, arrived on their progress northward at the residence of Micah. Recognizing his priest as one of their former acquaintances, or perhaps by his provincial dialect, they eagerly enlisted his services in ascertaining the result of their present expedition. His answer, though apparently promising, was delusive, and really as ambiguous as those of the heathen oracles. This application brings out still more clearly and fully than the schism of Micah the woeful degeneracy of the times. The Danites expressed no emotions either of surprise or of indignation at a Levite daring to assume the priestly functions, and at the existence of a rival establishment to that of Shiloh. They were ready to seek, through means of the teraphim, the information that could only be lawfully applied for through the high priest's Urim. Being thus equally erroneous in their views and habits as Micah, they show the low state of religion, and how much superstition prevailed in all parts of the land.

Clarke: Jdg 18:2 - Five men - men of valor

Five men - men of valor - The Hebrew word חיל chayil has been applied to personal prowess, to mental energy, and to earthly possessions. They sent those in whose courage, judgment, and prudence, they could safely confide.

TSK: Jdg 18:2 - men // Zorah // to spy // mount

men : Heb. sons

Zorah : Jdg 18:8, Jdg 18:11, Jdg 13:2, Jdg 13:25, Jdg 16:31; Gen 42:9; Jos 19:41

to spy : Num 13:17; Jos 2:1; Pro 20:18; Luk 14:31

mount : Jdg 17:1, Jdg 19:1, Jdg 19:18; Jos 17:15-18

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Jdg 18:2 - Of their family // They lodged there

Of their family which shows that it was but one, though a large family, which was engaged in this expedition. Eshtaol ; of which see Jos 19:41 Jud 13:2,25 .

They lodged there not in the same house, but near it, as appears from the next verse, in a neighbouring place.

Haydock: Jdg 18:2 - Family

Family. Hebrew, "From their extremity." Which may denote such as came to hand, (Calmet) or princes, (De Dieu) or people of mean appearance, (Castalion) unless we explain it "from their coasts," with Montanus, Protestants, &c. (Haydock)

Gill: Jdg 18:2 - And the children of Dan sent of their family five men // from their coasts, men of valour from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it // and they said unto them, search the land // who when they came to Mount Ephraim // to the house of Micah, they lodged there

And the children of Dan sent of their family five men,.... According to Abarbinel one out of a family, as Moses sent one out of a tribe to spy the land; and so there must be five families concerned in this affair:

from their coasts, men of valour from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; these men were sent from the borders of the tribe, the extreme parts of it, as the word may signify, where perhaps they were the most pressed and overcrowded: Zorah and Eshtaol are particularly mentioned, and were the first cities in their lot, and were the coast of their inheritance; see Gill on Jos 19:41 some take the phrase rendered "from their coasts" to signify persons of extreme meanness, men of the lowest class among them; but the above mentioned writers interpret it to a quite contrary sense, by "Katzinim", princes, such as Moses sent to spy the land; and this better agrees with the next clause, "men of valour": and the word used signifies not only magnanimity and fortitude of mind, but wealth and riches; and these were sent not to spy the land of Canaan, but such places as fell to this tribe, but were possessed by the Canaanites; and their errand was to observe in what condition they were, and whether fit for their purpose, and easy to obtain, and how they might get the possession of any of them:

and they said unto them, search the land; and see if some convenient place cannot be found out to enlarge their inheritance, and give them more room and liberty for their families, now pent up, and a pasturage for their flocks and herds:

who when they came to Mount Ephraim; which lay upon the borders of them:

to the house of Micah, they lodged there; that is, when they were come near to the house of Micah, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it, they took up their lodging in the neighbourhood of it, perhaps at a public house or inn; for the sense is not, that they lodged in Micah's house, for after this we read of their turning into it, as in the next verse. According to Bunting ^r, this place was twenty four miles from Zorah and Eshtaol, from whence these men came.