1 ل َمْ يَكُنْ فِي ذَلِكَ الوَقتِ، مَلِكٌ عَلَى إسْرائِيلَ. وَفِي ذَلِكَ الوَقتِ، كانَتْ قَبِيلَةُ دانَ تَسْعَى لِلحُصُولِ عَلَى أراضٍ تَسْكُنُ فِيها. إذْ لَمْ تَكُنْ حَتَّى ذَلِكَ الوَقْتِ قَدْ خُصِّصَتْ أراضٍ لَها بَينَ قَبائِلِ إسْرائِيلَ.

¶ In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Dan sought a possession for themselves to dwell in, for unto that day their lot had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel for an inheritance.

2 ف َأرْسَلَ الدّانِيُّونَ خَمْسَةَ رِجالٍ شُجعانٍ مِنْ كُلِّ قَبِيلَتِهِمْ، مِنْ صُرْعَةَ وَمِنْ أشْتَأُولَ لِيَتَفَحَّصُوا الأرْضَ وَيَستَكشِفُوها، وَقالُوا لَهُمْ: «اذْهَبُوا وَاستَكشِفُوا الأرْضَ!» فَذَهَبُوا إلَى مِنْطَقَةِ أفْرايِمَ الجَبَلِيَّةِ، حَتَّى وَصَلُوا إلَى بَيتِ مِيخا، فَباتُوا لَيلَتَهُمْ هُناكَ.

And the sons of Dan sent five men from their family of their borders, men of valour, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it, and they said unto them, Go, search the land. These came unto Mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, and they lodged there.

3 و َبَينَما هُمْ فِي بَيتِ مِيخا، مَيَّزُوا لَهجَةَ الَّلاوِي الشّابِ، فَذَهَبُوا إلَيهِ وَسَألُوهُ: «مَنْ أحضَرَكَ إلَى هُنا؟ وَماذا تَفعَلُ فِي هَذا المَكانِ؟ وَماذا لَكَ فِيْهِ؟»

When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the accent of the voice of the young man the Levite, and they turned in there and said unto him, Who brought thee here? And what doest thou in this place? And what hast thou here?

4 ف َقالَ لَهُمْ: «لَقَدْ فَعَلَ مِيخا كَذا وَكَذا لِي وَوَظَّفَنِي، فَصِرْتُ كاهِنَهُ.»

And he said unto them, Thus and thus Micah has done with me and has hired me that I may be his priest.

5 ف َقالُوا لَهُ: «اسْتِفسِرْ مِنَ اللهِ لِكَي تَعرِفَ إنْ كُنّا سَنَنجَحُ فِي مَسعانا.»

And they said unto him, Ask counsel now, therefore, of God, that we may know whether he shall prosper our journey which we do.

6 ف َقالَ الكاهِنُ لَهُمْ: «اذْهَبُوا بِسَلامٍ، فَاللهُ ساهِرٌ عَلَى مَسعاكُمْ.»

And the priest replied unto them, Go in peace. Your journey which ye do is before the LORD.

7 ف َذَهَبَ الرِّجالُ الخَمسَةُ. وَلَمّا وَصَلُوا إلَى لايِشَ، رَأَوْا الشَّعبَ هُناكَ ساكِنِينَ بِأمانٍ حَسَبَ حُكْمِ الصَّيدُونِيِّينَ. كانُوا يَسكُنُونَ فِي هُدُوءٍ وَطُمَأْنِينَةٍ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ هُناكَ مَنْ يُفسِدُ فِي الأرْضِ، وَلا حاكِمٌ ظالِمٌ. وَكانُوا بَعِيدِينَ عَنِ الصَّيدُونِيِّينَ، وَلَمْ تَكُنْ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ أرامَ مُعاهَدَةٌ.

¶ Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw that the people that dwelt there were secure, idle, and confident after the manner of the Zidonians; and there was no one in that land that might hinder them in any way from possessing that land; furthermore they were far from the Zidonians and had no business with anyone.

8 ف َجاءُوا إلَى أقرِبائِهِمْ فِي صُرْعَةَ وَأشْتَأُولَ، فَسَألَهُمْ أقرِباؤُهُمْ: «ماذا لَدَيكُمْ مِنْ أخبارٍ؟»

And they retuned unto their brethren in Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

9 ف َقالُوا: «قُومُوا نَذْهَبْ لِنَهجُمَ عَلَيهِمْ. فَقَدْ رَأينا الأرْضَ وَهِيَ جَيِّدَةٌ جِدّاً. ألَنْ تَفعَلُوا شَيئاً؟ لا تَتَباطَأُوا، بَلِ ادخُلُوا الأرْضَ وَامتَلِكُوها.

And they said, Arise, let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good; and are ye to remain still? Do not be slothful to go and to enter to possess the land.

10 ع ِندَما تَذْهَبُونَ، سَتَأْتُونَ إلَى شَعبٍ مُطمَئِنٍّ، وَالأرْضُ مَفتُوحَةٌ أمامَكُمْ، إذْ ضَمِنَ اللهُ لَكُمُ السَّيطَرَةَ عَلَيها. هِيَ مَكانٌ فِيهِ مِنْ كُلِّ خَيراتِ الأرْضِ.»

When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure and to a large land, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.

11 ف انطَلَقَ سِتُّ مِئَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنْ قَبِيلَةِ دانَ مُسَلَّحِينَ لِلحَرْبِ، مِنْ صُرْعَةَ وَأشْتَأُولَ.

And there went from there of the family of Dan, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war.

12 و َذَهَبُوا وَخَيَّمُوا عِنْدَ قَرْيَةِ يَعارِيمَ فِي يَهُوذا. وَلِهَذا سُمِّيَ ذَلِكَ المَكانُ «مُخَيَّمَ دانَ» حَتَّى يَومِنا هَذا. وَهِيَ تَقَعُ إلَى الشَّرْقِ مِنْ قَرْيَةِ يَعارِيمَ.

And they went up and pitched camp in Kirjathjearim in Judah; therefore, they called that place the camp of Dan unto this day; it is behind Kirjathjearim.

13 و َمِنْ مُخَيَّمِ دانَ، عَبَرُوا إلَى مِنْطَقَةِ أفْرايِمَ الجَبَلِيَّةِ، وَجاءُوا إلَى بَيتِ مِيخا.

And they passed from there unto Mount Ephraim and came unto the house of Micah.

14 ث ُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ الرِّجالُ الخَمْسَةُ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَ أنْ ذَهَبُوا لاستِكْشافِ الأرْضِ، وَقالُوا لِأقرِبائِهِمْ: «هَلْ تَعلَمُونَ أنَّهُ يُوجَدُ فِي هَذِهِ البُيُوتِ ثَوبٌ كَهَنُوتِيٌّ وَأصنامٌ بَيتِيَّةٌ وَوَثَنٌ مَسبُوكٌ مِنْ مَعدَنٍ؟ فَقَرِّرُوا الآنَ ما يَنْبَغِي أنْ تَفعَلُوهُ.»

¶ Then the five men that had gone to spy out the land of Laish said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod and teraphim and a graven image and a molten image? Now, therefore, consider what ye have to do.

15 ف انعَطَفُوا إلَى ذَلِكَ الاتِّجاهِ. وَجاءُوا إلَى بَيتِ الَّلاوِي الشّابِّ، بَيتِ مِيخا. وَألقَوْا عَلَيهِ التَّحِيَّةَ.

And they turned in there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and greeted him.

16 و َكانَ الرِّجالُ الدّانِيُّونَ المُسَلَّحُونَ السِّتُّ مِئَةٍ واقِفِينَ عِندَ مَدخَلِ البَوّابَةِ.

And the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.

17 ف َدَخَلَ الرِّجالُ الخَمسَةُ الَّذِينَ سَبَقُوا أنِ اسْتَكْشَفُوا الأرْضَ، وَأخَذُوا التِّمثالَ المَسبُوكَ وَالثَّوبَ الكَهَنُوتِيَّ وَالأصنامَ البَيتِيَّةَ. وَكانَ الكاهِنُ واقِفاً عِندَ مَدْخَلِ البَوّابَةِ مَعَ الرِّجالِ السِّتِّ مِئَةٍ المُسَلَّحِينَ لِلحَرْبِ.

And the five men that went to spy out the land went up and went in there and took the graven image and the ephod, and the teraphim and the molten image while the priest stood in the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men that were armed with weapons of war.

18 ف َلَمّا دَخَلَ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجالُ بَيتَ مِيخا، وَأخَذُوا الصَّنَمَ وَالثَّوبَ الكَهَنُوتِيَّ وَالأصنامَ البَيتِيَّةَ وَالتِّمثالَ المَسبُوكَ، قالَ الكاهِنُ لَهُمْ: «ما الَّذِي تَفعَلُونَهُ؟»

So they entered into Micah’s house and took the graven image the ephod and the teraphim and the molten image. Then the priest said unto them, What are you doing?

19 ف َقالُوا لَهُ: «اصْمِتْ! أَغْلِقْ فَمَكَ وَتَعالَ مَعَنا، وَكُنْ أباً وَكاهِناً لَنا. أتُفَضِّلُ أنْ تَكُونَ كاهِناً لِبَيتِ رَجُلٍ واحِدٍ عَلَى أنْ تَكُونَ كاهِناً لِقَبِيلَةٍ وَعَشِيرَةٍ فِي إسْرائِيلَ؟»

And they said unto him, Silence, lay thy hand upon thy mouth and go with us to be our father and priest; is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family of Israel?

20 ف َسُرَّ الكاهِنُ بِهَذا الكَلامِ، وَأخَذَ الثَّوبَ الكَهَنُوتِيَّ وَالأصنامَ البَيتِيَّةَ وَالصَّنَمَ، وَمَضَى مَعَهُمْ.

And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod and the teraphim and the graven image and went in the midst of the people.

21 ف َاسْتَدارُوا وَمَضَوا فِي طَرِيقِهِمْ، وَوَضَعُوا صِغارَهُمْ وَمَواشِيهِمْ وَمُمْتَلَكاتِهِمْ فِي المُقَدِّمَةِ.

So they turned and departed and put the little ones and the cattle and the baggage before them.

22 و َكانُوا بَعِيدِينَ جِدّاً عَنْ بَيتِ مِيخا عِندَما اسْتُدعِيَ الرِّجالُ السّاكِنُونَ فِي البُيُوتِ قُرْبَ بَيتِ مِيخا، لَكِنَّهُمْ أدرَكُوا الدّانِيِّينَ.

And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together and overtook the sons of Dan.

23 و َنادُوا عَلَى الدّانِيِّينَ، فَالْتَفَتَ الدّانِيُّونَ وَقالُوا لِمِيخا: «ما لَكَ قَدِ اسْتَدعَيتَ رِجالَكَ؟»

And they cried unto the sons of Dan. And these turned their faces and said unto Micah, What ails thee that thou dost come with such a company?

24 ف َقالَ لَهُمْ: «لَقَدْ أخَذْتُمْ آلِهَتِي الَّتِي صَنَعْتُها وَكاهِنِي وَغادَرْتُمْ. فَماذا تَبَقَّى لِي؟ وَكَيفَ تَقُولُونَ لِي: ‹ما لَكَ؟›»

And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made and the priest, and ye are gone away; and what is left to me? And why do ye say unto me, What ails thee?

25 ف َقالَ لَهُ الدّانِيُّونَ: «لا تَرفَعْ صَوتَكَ بَيننا، وَإلّا هاجَمَكَ رِجالٌ غاضِبُونَ، وَقَتَلُوكَ أنتَ وَأهلَ بَيتِكَ.»

And the sons of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us lest peradventure angry fellows run upon thee and thou lose thy life with the lives of thy household.

26 ث ُمَّ مَضَى الدّانِيُّونَ فِي طَرِيقِهِمْ. فَلَمّا رَأى مِيخا أنَّهُمْ أقوَى مِنْهُ، عادَ إلَى بَيتِهِ.

And the sons of Dan went their way, and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

27 و َهَكَذا أخَذَ الدّانِيُّونَ ما صَنَعَهُ مِيخا، وَأخَذُوا كاهِنَهُ. وَجاءُوا إلَى لايِشَ حَيثُ يَسْكُنُ شَعبٌ مُسالِمٌ مُطمَئِنٌّ، وَقَتَلُوهُمْ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ، وَأحرَقُوا المَدِينَةَ.

¶ And they took the things which Micah had made together with the priest which he had and came unto Laish unto a people that were at quiet and secure, and they smote them with the edge of the sword and burnt the city with fire.

28 و َلَمْ يَكُنْ هُناكَ مَنْ يُنقِذُهُمْ، لِأنَّهُمْ بَعِيدِينَ عَنْ صَيدُونَ. وَلَمْ تَكُنْ بَينَهُمْ وَبَينَ أرامَ أيَّةُ مُعاهَدَةٍ. وَكانَتِ المَدِينَةُ فِي الوادِي الَّذِي يَعُودُ إلَى بَيْتِ رَحُوبَ. وَأعادُوا بِناءَ المَدِينَةِ، وَاستَقَرُّوا فِيها.

And there was no deliverer because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with anyone; and it was in the valley that lies by Bethrehob. Then they rebuilt the city and dwelt therein.

29 و َسَمُّوا المَدِينَةَ دانَ عَلَى اسْمِ جَدِّهِمْ دانَ بنِ يَعقُوبَ. وَلَكِنَّ اسْمَ المَدِينَةِ الأصلِيَّ هُوَ لايِشُ.

And they called the name of the city Dan after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel; however, the name of the city was Laish at the first.

30 ث ُمَّ نَصَبَ الدّانِيُّونَ الصَّنَمَ لِأنفُسِهِمْ. وَخَدَمَ يُوناثانُ بْنُ جَرشُومَ بْنُ مُوسَى، وَأولادُهُ كَكَهَنَةٍ لِعَشِيرَةِ الدّانِيِّينَ حَتَّى سُبْيَ بَنوْ إسْرائِيلَ مِنَ أرْضِهِمْ.

And the sons of Dan set up the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershon, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

31 و َهَكَذا نَصَبُوا لِأنفُسِهِمِ الصَّنَمَ الَّذِي صَنَعَهُ مِيخا، طَوالَ المُدَّةِ الَّتِي كانَ فِيها بَيْتُ اللهِ فِي شِيلُوهَ.

And they set up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.