Here is, 1. The eye which these Danites had upon Laish, not the whole
tribe of Dan, but one family of them, to whose lot, in the subdivision
of Canaan, that city fell. Hitherto this family had sojourned with
their brethren, who had taken possession of their lot, which lay
between Judah and the Philistines, and had declined going to their own
city, because there was no king in Israel to rule over them, v. 1. It
lay a great way off, separate from the rest of their tribe; it was
entirely in the enemy's hand, and therefore they would sponge upon
their brethren rather than go far to provide for themselves. But at
length necessity forced them to arouse themselves, and they began to
think of an inheritance to dwell in. It is better to have a little of
one's own than always to hang upon others. 2. The enquiry which this
family of the Danites made concerning Laish: They sent five men to
search the land (v. 2), that they might know the character of the
country, whether it was an inheritance worth going so far for, and the
posture of the people, whether the making of themselves masters of it
was a thing practicable, what force was necessary in order thereunto,
and which was the best way of making an attack upon it. The men they
sent were men of valour, who, if they fell into their enemies' hands,
knew how to look danger in the face. It is prudent to look before we
leap. Dan had the subtlety of a serpent by the way (Gen. xlix. 17), as
well as the courage of a lion's whelp, leaping from Bashan, Deut.
xxxiii. 22. 3. The acquaintance which their spies got with Micah's
priest, and the use they made of that acquaintance. It seems, they had
know this Levite formerly, he having in his rambles been sometimes in
their country; and, though his countenance might be altered, they knew
him again by his voice, v. 3. They were surprised to find him so far
off, enquired what brought him thither, and he told them (v. 4) what
business he had there, and what encouragement. They, understanding that
he had an oracle in his custody, desired he would tell them whether
they should prosper in their present undertaking, v. 5. See their
carelessness and regardlessness of God and his providence; they would
not have enquired of the Lord at all if this Levite's mentioning the
teraphim he had with him had not put it into their heads. Many never
think of religion but just when it falls in their way and they cannot
avoid it, like chance customers. See their ignorance of the divine law,
that they thought God, who had forbidden the religious use of graven
images, would yet own them in consulting an image, and give them an
answer of peace. Should he be enquired of by them? Ezek. xiv. 3. They
seem to have had a greater opinion of Micah's teraphim than of God's
urim; for they had passed by Shiloh, and, for aught that appears, had
not enquired there of God's high priest, but Micah's shabby Levite
shall be an oracle to them. He betakes himself to his usual method of
consulting his teraphim; and, whether he himself believed it or no, he
humoured the thing so well that he made them believe he had an answer
from God encouraging them to go on, and assuring them of good success
(v. 6): "Go in peace, you shall be safe, and may be easy, for before
the Lord is your way," that is, "he approves it" (as the Lord is said
to know the way of the righteous with acceptation), "and therefore he
will make it prosperous, his eye will be upon you for good, he will
direct your way, and preserve your going out and coming in." Note, Our
great care should be that our way be such as God approves, and, if it
be so, we may go in peace. If God care for us, on him let us cast our
care, and be satisfied that we cannot miss our way if he go before us.