And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.

JUDGES 18:11KJV
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Judges 18:11 (KJV)

What does Judges 18:11 mean?

Judges 18:11 describes a group of Danites setting out from their home area as an armed party. Their departure turns the search for another place to live into a larger movement involving men ready for battle.

After the scouts’ report in verse 10, the narrator gives the number of men who leave: 600. “Appointed with weapons of war” pictures them equipped for fighting, rather than simply traveling to inspect the land.

The Hebrew behind Judges 18:11

  • “family” — מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah): The word can mean a family group or clan. Here it points to a wider group of related people, not just one household.
  • “appointed” — חָגַר (chagar): The word often means to gird or equip oneself. In this verse, it describes the men as equipped with weapons; “appointed” does not mean that they were assigned an official position.

Why Judges 18:11 matters

  • The expedition involves more than the original scouts. Verse 2 mentions five men sent to explore, while verse 11 names 600 armed men who leave afterward.
  • The two towns help locate the group’s starting point. “Zorah” and “Eshtaol” were places associated with the Danites’ earlier home area.
  • The armed party is part of a larger move. Later in the passage, verse 21 mentions children, livestock, and goods accompanying the group.

Where else these words appear

“Danites” Hebrew H1839 · used in 5 verses

  • Judges 13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
  • Judges 18:1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
  • Judges 18:30 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.

“Eshtaol” Hebrew H847 · used in 7 verses

  • Joshua 15:33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
  • Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
  • Judges 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, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

“Zorah” Hebrew H6881 · used in 10 verses

  • Joshua 15:33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
  • Judges 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
  • Judges 18:8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

“appointed” Hebrew H2296 · used in 40 verses

  • Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
  • 2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
  • Proverbs 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.