Judges 18:15
New International Version
So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him.

New Living Translation
Then the five men turned off the road and went over to Micah’s house, where the young Levite lived, and greeted him kindly.

English Standard Version
And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare.

Berean Standard Bible
So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him.

King James Bible
And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

New King James Version
So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man—to the house of Micah—and greeted him.

New American Standard Bible
So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing.

NASB 1995
They turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

NASB 1977
And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

Amplified Bible
So they turned in that direction and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him how he was doing.

Christian Standard Bible
So they detoured there and went to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and greeted him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they detoured there and went to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and greeted him.

American Standard Version
And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

English Revised Version
And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they stopped and entered Micah's house and greeted the young Levite.

Good News Translation
So they went into Micah's house, where the young Levite lived, and asked the Levite how he was getting along.

International Standard Version
So they turned aside from there, went to Micah's house, and greeted him.

Majority Standard Bible
So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him.

NET Bible
They stopped there, went inside the young Levite's house (which belonged to Micah), and asked him how he was doing.

New Heart English Bible
They turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and saluted him.

World English Bible
They went over there and came to the house of the young Levite man, even to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they turn aside there, and come to the house of the young man, the Levite, the house of Micah, and ask of him of welfare—

Young's Literal Translation
And they turn aside thither, and come in unto the house of the young man the Levite, the house of Micah, and ask of him of welfare, --

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will turn aside there and come to the house of the youth the Levite, of the house of Micah, and they will ask him for peace.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they had turned a little aside, they went into the house of the young man the Levite, who was in the house of Michas: and they saluted him with words of peace.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had turned aside a little, they entered the house of the Levite youth, who was in the house of Micah. And they greeted him with peaceful words.

New American Bible
So turning in that direction, they went to the house of the young Levite at the home of Micah and greeted him.

New Revised Standard Version
So they turned in that direction and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and greeted him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they turned aside, and came to the house of the young man, Levi, even to the house of Micah, and saluted him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they turned aside and they entered the house of the young man Levi at the house of Mikah, and they invoked his peace
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they turned aside there, and went into the house of the young man, the Levite, even into the house of Michaias, and asked him how he was.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Danites Take Micah's Idols
14Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod, household gods, a graven image, and a molten idol? Now think about what you should do.” 15So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah, and greeted him. 16The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance of the gate, armed with their weapons of war.…

Cross References
Joshua 18:2-3
there were still seven tribes of Israel who had not yet received their inheritance. / So Joshua said to the Israelites, “How long will you put off entering and possessing the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

Judges 17:1-6
Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim / said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have the silver here with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!” / And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.” ...

1 Samuel 9:18-19
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” / “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart.

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

2 Kings 17:29-33
Nevertheless, the people of each nation continued to make their own gods in the cities where they had settled, and they set them up in the shrines that the people of Samaria had made on the high places. / The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, / the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim. ...

Hosea 4:12-13
My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. / They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.

Micah 1:5-7
All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? / Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations. / All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute.

Matthew 10:11-14
Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. / As you enter the home, greet its occupants. / If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you. ...

Luke 10:5-7
Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ / If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. / Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Acts 17:22-23
Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. / For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Galatians 4:8-9
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Ephesians 2:12
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.


Treasury of Scripture

And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and saluted him.

saluted him.

Genesis 37:14
And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Genesis 43:27
And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

1 Samuel 17:22
And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

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Judges 18
1. The Danites send five men to seek out an inheritance
3. At the house of Micah they consult with Jonathan, and are encouraged
7. They search Laish, and bring back news of good hope
11. Six hundred men are sent to surprise it
16. In their way they rob Micah of his priest and his consecrated things
27. They win Laish, and call it Dan
30. They set up idolatry, wherein Jonathan inherits the priesthood.














So they turned aside there
This phrase indicates a deliberate change in direction or purpose. The Hebrew root for "turned aside" is "סוּר" (sur), which often implies a deviation from a path or plan. In the context of Judges, this turning aside can symbolize a departure from God's intended path, reflecting the broader theme of Israel's spiritual waywardness during the time of the Judges. Historically, this period was marked by a cycle of disobedience, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, highlighting the Israelites' struggle to remain faithful to God amidst surrounding pagan influences.

and went to the house of the young Levite
The mention of a "young Levite" is significant. Levites were members of the tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties. However, this young Levite's presence in Micah's house, rather than serving in the tabernacle, suggests a deviation from his God-given role. The Hebrew word for "young" is "נַעַר" (na'ar), which can denote inexperience or immaturity. This detail underscores the spiritual confusion and lack of proper leadership in Israel at the time, as even those set apart for God's service were not fulfilling their intended roles.

at the home of Micah
Micah's home is central to this narrative. Micah, an Ephraimite, had established a shrine with idols and appointed his own priest, which was contrary to God's commandments. The Hebrew name "מִיכָה" (Mikha) means "Who is like Yahweh?"—ironically highlighting the contrast between Micah's actions and the worship of the one true God. Archaeological findings from this era reveal that household shrines and idol worship were common, reflecting the syncretism and spiritual decline in Israel.

and greeted him
The act of greeting, in Hebrew "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), often implies more than a simple salutation; it can indicate a desire for peace or favor. In this context, the greeting may reflect the Danites' initial peaceful intentions or their attempt to establish rapport with the Levite. This interaction sets the stage for the subsequent events, where the Danites' true intentions are revealed. The greeting serves as a reminder of the importance of discernment and the need to align one's actions with God's will, rather than being swayed by appearances or personal gain.

(15-18) In these verses we have a graphic description of the whole nefarious proceeding. The five spies, knowing Jonathan, salute him, and inveigle him to the entrance of the court to talk to their six hundred companions. While the chiefs of this little army detain him in conversation, without any show of violence the five slip away unobserved to the aliyah, or upper room, which serves as the chapel, and steal all the essentials of the worship--namely, (1) the ephod; (2) the teraphim; (3) the graven image; (4) the molten image. It is true that in Judges 18:20-30 the massecah is not mentioned; but it may be regarded as belonging to the pesel. It is only when he sees them in actual possession of these that Jonathan asks the alarmed question, "What do ye?"

Verse 15. - Even unto the house, etc. Rather, at Beth-Micah.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they turned
וַיָּס֣וּרוּ (way·yā·sū·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

aside there
שָׁ֔מָּה (šām·māh)
Adverb | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

and went
וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the home
בֵּֽית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the young
הַנַּ֥עַר (han·na·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

Levite,
הַלֵּוִ֖י (hal·lê·wî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

the house
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Micah,
מִיכָ֑ה (mî·ḵāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4318: Micah -- the name of several Israelites

and greeted
וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־ (way·yiš·’ă·lū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

him.
לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (lə·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace


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OT History: Judges 18:15 They turned aside there and came (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 18:14
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