They named it Dan after their ancestor, who was one of Israel’s sons. But the city’s name used to be Laish.

The Amorites forced the people of Dan to live in the hill country. They did not allow them to live in the coastal plain.

The Lord’s spirit began to control him in Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Meanwhile the six hundred Danites, fully armed, stood at the entrance to the gate.

When they called out to the Danites, the Danites turned around and said to Micah, “Why have you gathered together?”

Gilead stayed put beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan – why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? Asher remained on the seacoast, he stayed by his harbors.

After they had gone a good distance from Micah’s house, Micah’s neighbors gathered together and caught up with the Danites.

The Danites said to him, “Don’t say another word to us, or some very angry men will attack you, and you and your family will die.”

The Danites went on their way; when Micah realized they were too strong to resist, he turned around and went home.

All the Israelites from Dan to Beer Sheba and from the land of Gilead left their homes and assembled together before the Lord at Mizpah.

The Danites sent out from their whole tribe five representatives, capable men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. They said to them, “Go, explore the land.” They came to the Ephraimite hill country and spent the night at Micah’s house.

The Danites worshiped the carved image. Jonathan, descendant of Gershom, son of Moses, and his descendants served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the exile.