There was a man named Manoah from Zorah, from the Danite tribe. His wife was infertile and childless.

There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah. He was a Levite who had been temporarily residing among the tribe of Judah.

So six hundred Danites, fully armed, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.

He showed them a secret entrance into the city, and they put the city to the sword. But they let the man and his extended family leave safely.

Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother’s relatives. He said to them and to his mother’s entire extended family,

Then the Israelites dispersed from there to their respective tribal and clan territories. Each went from there to his own property.

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.

They said to him, “Shut up! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us! You can be our adviser and priest. Wouldn’t it be better to be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for just one man’s family?”