Dan seizes a city and carries Micah’s shrine with it

“In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to…” Naming Israel and Danites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.” Naming Micah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, peace, priest. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan unto this day…” Naming Kirjath and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.” Naming Ephraim and Micah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and…” Naming Levite and Micah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“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…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst…” The line’s distinctive content terms include ephod, glad, graven. Its relationship to verses 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were…” Naming Micah and Dan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou…” Naming Dan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back…” Naming Dan and Micah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that…” Naming Laish and Micah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the…” Naming Beth and Zidon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the…” Naming Dan and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his…” Naming Dan and Gershom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.” Naming Micah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.