Judges 18:7

5 Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to determine whether we will have a successful journey.”

6 And the priest told them, “Go in peace. The LORD is watching over your journey.”

So the five men departed and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living securely, like the Sidonians, tranquil and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. And they were far away from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone.

8 When the men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, “What did you find?”

9 They answered, “Come on, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Why would you fail to act? Do not hesitate to go there and take possession of the land!

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So the five men departed and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living securely, like the Sidonians, tranquil and unsuspecting. There was nothing lacking in the land and no oppressive ruler. And they were far away from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone.
KJV
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
WEB
Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in safety, in the way of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was no one in the land possessing authority, that might put them to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone else.
ASV
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.
DARBY
And the five men departed, and came to Laish; and they saw the people that were therein, dwelling securely, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and no one was in the land who possessed authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had nothing to do with [any] man.
BLB
And the five men departed and went to Laish, and they saw the people who [were] in its midst, dwelling securely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure, and nothing was lacking in the land in anything, possessing restraint, and they [were] far off from the Sidonians, and [were] no ties to them with man.
ÅB
De fem menn dro nå sin vei og kom til La'is, og de så at folket der levde sorgløst på samme vis som sidonierne, rolig og sorgløst; det var ingen makthaver i landet som gjorde dem noe mén; de var langt borte fra sidonierne og hadde intet å gjøre med noe menneske.
OTB
Så dro de fem mennene av sted og kom til Laish, hvor de observerte at folket levde trygt, på samme måte som sidonierne, fredelig og intetanende. Deres land manglet ingenting og var velstående. De var langt fra sidonierne og hadde ingen forbindelser med noen andre.
B1930
De fem menn drog nu sin vei og kom til La'is, og de så at folket der levde sorgløst på samme vis som sidonierne, rolig og sorgløst; det var ingen makthaver i landet som gjorde dem noget mén; de var langt borte fra sidonierne og hadde intet å gjøre med noget menneske.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 19:47

    (Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.)

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 3:13

    I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity of which he knows, because his sons blasphemed God and he did not restrain them.

    Read in context
  • Judges 18:27–28

    After they had taken Micah’s idols and his priest, they went to Laish, to a tranquil and unsuspecting people, and they struck them with their swords and burned down the city.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 1:6

    (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

    Read in context
  • Romans 13:3

    For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 2:14

    or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 18:7

    As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’

    Read in context