Judges 18: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Judges 18 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The Danites sought their inheritance, as their territory had not yet been assigned (vv. 1-2). They sent five men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy the land and stayed at Micah's house.

Key verse

“The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.”
Judges 18:30 (WEB)

Outline

Judges 18:1–2 Danites Seek Their Inheritance
Judges 18:3–6 Encounter with the Levite Priest
Judges 18:7–10 Spying Out Laish
Judges 18:11–12 Preparation for Invasion
Judges 18:13–20 Taking Micah's Idols
Judges 18:21–26 Confrontation with Micah
Judges 18:27–31 Destruction of Laish and Establishment of Dan

Discussion questions

In v6, what does the priest say about the Danites' journey?
What do the Danites find in vv. 14-15 when they visit Micah's house?
In v20, why does the priest choose to go with the Danites?
In v27, what does the destruction of Laish indicate about the Danites' actions?
When have you felt compelled to take something that seemed beneficial, like the Danites with Micah's idols?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Judges 18: Judges 17, Joshua 19, Judges 19.

Before next time: read Judges 19.