And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
JUDGES 18:17KJVWhat does Judges 18:17 mean?
Judges 18:17 describes how five men from the tribe of Dan entered a house and took several religious objects, including a carved image, an ephod, household idols (teraphim), and a metal image, while a priest stood at the entrance with six hundred armed men. The verse highlights a moment when these Danite scouts seized religious items as part of their plan to establish their own place of worship.
This scene takes place during the Danites’ search for a new homeland. The five men had previously scouted the area and now returned with the main group. The religious objects they took were significant in Israelite worship at the time, and the presence of the priest and armed men shows the seriousness and force behind their actions. The verse sets up a confrontation about religious authority and ownership in the following verses.
The Hebrew behind Judges 18:17
- "Graven image" (פֶּסֶל, pesel) and "molten image" (מַסֵּכָה, masekah) are both terms for idols, but the first refers to something carved, while the second refers to something cast from metal. The use of both words emphasizes the variety and importance of the objects taken.
- "Ephod" (אֵפוֹד, ephod) often refers to a priestly garment, but in this context, it likely means a ritual object used for seeking guidance, highlighting the Danites’ interest in controlling religious practices.
- "Teraphim" (תְּרָפִים, teraphim) are household idols, often associated with divination or seeking answers from the divine. Their inclusion shows the mix of religious practices in this period.
Why Judges 18:17 matters
- This verse clarifies that the Danites were not just seeking land but also religious legitimacy, shown by their deliberate seizure of sacred objects and a priest.
- The verse highlights the chaotic spiritual situation in Israel during the time of the Judges, where tribes acted independently and religious practices were often mixed or confused.
- Understanding this verse helps explain the later conflict in the chapter and the origins of an unauthorized shrine in Dan, which becomes significant in Israel’s later history.