Wesley Corpus

Chapter XVIII The Danish spies call at Micah's house, ver. 1 - 6. The report they bring back, ver. 7 - 10. The Danites send forces, who by the way plunder Micah of his gods, ver. 11 - 26. They take Laish and set up idolatry there, ver. 27 - 31. Those days - Not long after Joshua's death. The tribe - A part of that tribe, consisting only of six hundred men of war, with their families, ver.16,21. Inheritance - The lot had fallen to them before this time, but not the actual possession, because the Philistines and Amorites opposed them. There - Not in the same house, but near it. Knew - By the acquaintance which some of them formerly had with him. Ask - By thine Ephod, and Teraphim, or images, which they knew he had, ver.14. Before the Lord - That is, your design is under the eye of God; that is, under his care, protection and direction. This answer he either feigns to gratify their humour; or, did indeed receive from the devil, who transformed himself into an angel of light, and in God's name gave him answers, and those not sometimes very true, which God suffered for the trial of his people. But it is observable, his answer was, as the devil's oracles usually were, ambiguous, and such as might have been interpreted either way. Manner of the Zidonians - Who living in a very strong place, and abounding in wealth, and perceiving that the Israelites never attempted anything against them, were grown secure and careless. Put to shame - Or, that might rebuke or punish any thing, that is, any crime. Putting to shame seems to be used for inflicting civil punishment, because shame is generally the effect of it. Zidonians - Who otherwise could have succoured them, and would have been ready to do it. No business - No league or confederacy, nor much converse with other cities, it being in a pleasant and plentiful soil, between the two rivulets of Jor and Dan, not needing supplies from others, and therefore minding only their own ease and pleasure. Given - This they gather partly from God's promise which they supposed they had from the Levite's mouth; and partly from his providence, which had so disposed them, that they would be an easy prey.