The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill country; for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;

Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.

The Spirit of Yahweh began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

The children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, "Go, explore the land!" They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

They went up, and encamped in Kiriath Jearim, in Judah: therefore they called that place Mahaneh Dan, to this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim.

The six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.

When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

They cried to the children of Dan. They turned their faces, and said to Micah, "What ails you, that you come with such a company?"

The children of Dan said to him, "Don't let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household."

The children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel: however the name of the city was Laish at the first.

The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.