Question 1

What does Judges 18:15 mean?

Accepted Answer

Judges 18:15 describes how a group of men turned aside and went to the house of a young Levite man, who was living in the house of Micah, and greeted him. The verse shows the men making contact with the Levite as part of their journey and investigation. In context, these men are Danite spies sent to scout out land for their tribe. They arrive at Micah’s house, where a Levite is serving as a kind of personal priest. The greeting (“saluted him”) suggests a polite or formal approach, setting up the conversation that follows in the next verses.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Judges 18:15

Accepted Answer

“Saluted” uses two Hebrew words: שָׁאַל (sha’al, H7592), meaning “to ask” or “inquire,” and שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965), meaning “peace” or “well-being.” Together, this is often understood as “they asked him about his well-being” or “they greeted him with peace,” showing a customary, respectful greeting rather than just a casual hello. “Man” is נַעַר (na'ar, H5288), which means “young man.” This highlights that the Levite was not an older, established priest but a younger individual, which may add to the sense of informality or vulnerability in his position.

Question 3

Why Judges 18:15 matters

Accepted Answer

The verse clarifies that the Levite is a guest or resident in Micah’s house, not a priest at a public shrine, which helps explain the unusual religious situation described in this part of Judges. The use of the greeting with both “ask” and “peace” shows the Danites are approaching the Levite respectfully, possibly to gain his trust or information, rather than with hostility. This meeting sets up the events that follow, where the Danites will ask the Levite for guidance and later involve him in their plans, making this encounter a turning point in the narrative.

Judges 18:15 (KJV)