Judges 18:21
New International Version
Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.

New Living Translation
They turned and started on their way again, placing their children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.

English Standard Version
So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them.

Berean Standard Bible
Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed.

King James Bible
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

New King James Version
Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.

New American Standard Bible
Then they turned and left, and put the children, the livestock, and the valuables in front of them.

NASB 1995
Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them.

NASB 1977
Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they turned and went away and put the little ones and the livestock and the valuables in front of them.

Amplified Bible
So they turned and left, and they put the children, the livestock, and the valuables and supplies in front of them.

Christian Standard Bible
They prepared to leave, putting their dependents, livestock, and possessions in front of them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They prepared to leave, putting their small children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.

American Standard Version
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them.

Contemporary English Version
from the tribe of Dan. Then they turned and left, after putting their children, their cattle, and the rest of their other possessions in front.

English Revised Version
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they left, they put their children, livestock, and property in front of them.

Good News Translation
They turned around and started off, with their children, their livestock, and their belongings going ahead.

International Standard Version
Then they turned around and left, sending their little ones, their livestock, and their valuables on ahead.

Majority Standard Bible
Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed.

NET Bible
They turned and went on their way, but they walked behind the children, the cattle, and their possessions.

New Heart English Bible
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the goods before them.

Webster's Bible Translation
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones, and the cattle, and the furniture before them.

World English Bible
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods before them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they turn and go, and put the infants, and the livestock, and the baggage, before them.

Young's Literal Translation
and they turn and go, and put the infants, and the cattle, and the baggage, before them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will turn and go and put the little ones and the cattle and the wealth before them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they were going forward, and had put before them the children and the cattle and all that was valuable,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And while traveling, they had also sent the children, and the cattle, and all that was valuable to go ahead of them.

New American Bible
As they turned to depart, they placed their little ones, their livestock, and their goods at the head of the column.

New Revised Standard Version
So they resumed their journey, putting the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they turned and departed, and put the sheep and the goods and the cattle in front of them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they turned and they departed and they went, and the ewe lambs and the goods and the animals went before them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So they turned and departed, and put their children and their property and their baggage before them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Danites Take Micah's Idols
20So the priest was glad and took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went with the people. 21Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them, they turned and departed. 22After they were some distance from Micah’s house, the men in the houses near Micah’s house mobilized and overtook the Danites.…

Cross References
Joshua 6:17-19
Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.”

1 Samuel 15:19-23
So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” / “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. / The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” ...

2 Kings 17:9-12
The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. / They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. ...

Isaiah 44:9-20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...

Jeremiah 10:1-5
Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. / This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. / For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. ...

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 1:7
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.

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

Deuteronomy 12:2-4
Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. / Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. / You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way.

Exodus 20:4-5
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

1 Corinthians 10:19-21
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18
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.” / “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” / And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:5-7
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. / Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. / Therefore do not be partakers with them.


Treasury of Scripture

So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.

and put.

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Carriage Cattle Children Departed Infants Little Ones Oxen Possessions Putting Turn Turned Valuables Way
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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.














Putting their small children, their livestock, and their possessions in front of them
This phrase highlights the strategic and protective measures taken by the Danites. In the Hebrew context, the word for "small children" (טַף, taf) often refers to the most vulnerable members of the community. By placing them at the front, the Danites were ensuring their safety, as any attack would have to go through the warriors first. This reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice where the most valuable and vulnerable were safeguarded. The inclusion of "livestock" (מִקְנֶה, miqneh) and "possessions" (כְּלִי, keli) underscores the importance of these assets in a nomadic and agrarian society. Livestock was a sign of wealth and sustenance, while possessions represented the accumulated resources necessary for survival and prosperity. This strategic arrangement also indicates a sense of urgency and determination in their departure, as they were moving with all they had, ready to establish a new life.

they turned and departed
The act of turning and departing signifies a decisive action taken by the Danites. The Hebrew verb "departed" (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayelechu) conveys movement and transition. Historically, this reflects the Danites' quest for a new territory, as they were seeking a land where they could settle and thrive, away from the pressures and conflicts in their original allotment. This movement is not just physical but also spiritual, as it represents a turning point in their journey as a tribe. Theologically, this can be seen as a metaphor for the believer's journey of faith, where one must sometimes leave behind the familiar and step into the unknown, trusting in God's provision and guidance. The Danites' departure is a reminder of the importance of obedience and trust in God's promises, even when the path is uncertain.

(21) The little ones and the cattle.--It is only in this incidental way that the fact of this being a regular migration is brought out. (Comp. Exodus 12:37.) The women are, of course, included, though not mentioned (Genesis 34:29; 2Chronicles 20:13).

And the carriage--i.e., "the baggage." (Comp. Acts 21:15.) The word is hakkebodah, which the LXX. (Cod. A) render "their glorious possession," and the Vulg. "everything which was precious," i.e., the valuables. But as cabid means "to be heavy," the rendering of the Vatican MS. of the LXX.--"the weight," i.e., "the heavy baggage" (impedimenta)--may be right. The word has no connection with that similarly rendered in 1Samuel 17:22. . . .

Verse 21. - They turned, i.e. turned their backs upon Beth-Micah, and went on their way to the north. The little ones. The term necessarily includes the women of the emigrant party. Compare Jacob's care for his wives and children (Genesis 33:1-5); only Jacob expected an attack from Esau in front, the Danites an attack from Micah from behind. The carriage. It is the same word as is translated in Genesis 31:1 glory; it might be rendered valuables. It would no doubt include the precious images and ephod which they had just stolen.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Putting
וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ (way·yā·śî·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

their small children,
הַטַּ֧ף (haṭ·ṭap̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2945: A family

their livestock,
הַמִּקְנֶ֛ה (ham·miq·neh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

and their possessions
הַכְּבוּדָּ֖ה (hak·kə·ḇū·dāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3520: Weightiness, magnificence, wealth

in front of them,
לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (lip̄·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

they turned
וַיִּפְנ֖וּ (way·yip̄·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

and departed.
וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ (way·yê·lê·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT History: Judges 18:21 So they turned and departed and put (Jd Judg. Jdg)
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