Exploring the Meaning of Judges 18
Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth
The Tribe of Dan Adopts Micah’s Idolatry
This chapter shows the way in which one person’s distortion of truth, turning it into a falsity, can have severe consequences on a larger scale.
The tribe of Dan – one of the twelve tribes of Israel – was given land to the west, by the coast, but they found it hard to hold on to. The name of the tribe of Dan means ‘to judge’, but if judgment isn't based on the Word there will be chaos. (Arcana Caelestia 842)
Faced with competition for their homeland, the tribal leaders of Dan went looking for a place for themselves elsewhere. They sent five men of valour to spy out the land. These men came to Micah’s house, and they recognised the voice of the young Levite there. They questioned him about his situation, and he told them that Micah had hired him to be a priest to his household. The men of Dan asked the Levite to ask the Lord if their search would be prosperous, and he told them that it would be.
The spiritual meaning of this part of the chapter is to do with an intensifying wrongness. At the textual level, there is reference to the Lord, and an apparent normality in what takes place. But underlying it, there's a wrongness, which will become apparent later in the chapter. The pointers to it here are the five men from Dan, them coming straight to Micah’s house, and the hiring of a priest.
The number ‘five’ has a good meaning in many parts of the Word, but it can also have a bad meaning, as it does here. In this context, it stands for only a little, for disunion and the destruction of the Word (Apocalypse Revealed 738).
Coming directly to Micah’s house and recognising the Levite brings together two evil intentions: Micah’s idol and the men of Dan’s search to take a home for themselves. An example for us could be where two people plot to seek the harm of a third person. (Arcana Caelestia 4724)
The hiring of a priest is something disallowed, for priests are there to serve the Lord and they are provided for by the people, not to be hired. Hiring, spiritually, stands for seeking reward for what you do, whereas the true reward is heaven for those who serve without expecting a reward. (Arcana Caelestia 8002)
The five men leave Micah's house, and go on to Laish in the far north, where there are people who dwell securely in peace and without rulers, far from others and with no ties. Laish means ‘fearless and kneaded together’. It is a picture of perfection, of heaven. (Divine Love and Wisdom 200)
The five men then return to their tribe of Dan and report about Laish. They say that it is ideal for the taking because it has plenty of land and its people are secure. They say that “God has given it into your hands”.
Six hundred men of the tribe of Dan set out and they too, come to the house of Micah. The five spies tell them about the idols and they meet and greet the young Levite. Then the five spies go in and take all the idols in the house. The Levite joins up with the men from Dan and they go on together.
One spiritual meaning in the story is that evil (Dan, gone bad) loves to destroy peace and innocence (Laish).
The complete loss to Micah of all his idols and his hired priest, shows, too, that in fully turning to evil, there is the final loss of everything that might bring a person back. (Arcana Caelestia 9039)
People living near Micah go and accost the men of Dan about what they have taken -- but Micah is told to stop complaining or his household will be killed.
The Danites leave, and go and capture Laish, killing and burning, and re-naming the city Dan. There they set up the images and appoint priests. These images remain in Dan all the time that the house of God is in Shiloh.
The spiritual meaning of one evil or falsity becoming greater or more numerous is in the way that we might hold a negative emotion or a distorted view in our mind where it then spreads to other emotions and views we have and brings them into greater evil and falsity. This is the intention of evil and also of hell’s influence, to extend it to be as widespread as possible.
This is the outcome of everything that has developed through this and the previous chapter. It describes the spread of evil to become a terrible force for destruction and spiritually, for an individual person, for self-destruction. In the context of the decline of Israel to where ‘everyone did what was right in their own eyes’ this progression presents the pathway and process of that spiritual loss. (Divine Providence 19)
Matthew 19
1
It happened when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.
2
Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3
Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
4
He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
5
and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'
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So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don't let man tear apart."
7
They asked him, "Why then did Moses command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?"
8
He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.
9
I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."
10
His disciples said to him, "If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry."
11
But he said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.
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For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it."
13
Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
14
But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these."
15
He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
16
Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
17
He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
18
He said to him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder.' 'You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not steal.' 'You shall not offer false testimony.'
19
'Honor your father and mother.' And, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20
The young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?"
21
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
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But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
23
Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
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Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
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When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
26
Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
27
Then Peter answered, "Behold, we have left everything, and followed you. What then will we have?"
28
Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29
Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
30
But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
