1
Jud 18:1-26.
英文原文
Jud 18:1-26.
THE DANITES SEEK OUT AN INHERITANCE.
1-6. In those days . . . the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in--The Danites had a territory assigned them as well as the other tribes. But either through indolence, or a lack of energy, they did not acquire the full possession of their allotment, but suffered a considerable portion of it to be wrested out of their hands by the encroachments of their powerful neighbors, the Philistines. In consequence, being straitened for room, a considerable number resolved on trying to effect a new and additional settlement in a remote part of the land. A small deputation, being despatched to reconnoitre the country, arrived on their progress northward at the residence of Micah. Recognizing his priest as one of their former acquaintances, or perhaps by his provincial dialect, they eagerly enlisted his services in ascertaining the result of their present expedition. His answer, though apparently promising, was delusive, and really as ambiguous as those of the heathen oracles. This application brings out still more clearly and fully than the schism of Micah the woeful degeneracy of the times. The Danites expressed no emotions either of surprise or of indignation at a Levite daring to assume the priestly functions, and at the existence of a rival establishment to that of Shiloh. They were ready to seek, through means of the teraphim, the information that could only be lawfully applied for through the high priest's Urim. Being thus equally erroneous in their views and habits as Micah, they show the low state of religion, and how much superstition prevailed in all parts of the land.
7
無標題
7-10. 五個人走了，到了拉億——或作「利善」
（書19:47），
據推測是西頓人的殖民地。這地方十分偏僻，土壤肥沃、出產豐盛；居民務農為業，在富饒隱秘的谷中按西頓人安逸穩妥的方式過活，彼此相安，與外界幾乎沒有往來。但族的探子發現了這個北方的樂園，喜出望外，以為是祭司預言的應驗。他們急忙回去，將所發現的寶物之價值、以及如何輕易將其據為己有，告訴南方的同胞。
英文原文
7-10. the five men departed, and came to Laish--or, "Leshem"
(Jos 19:47),
supposed to have been peopled by a colony of Zidonians. The place was very secluded--the soil rich in the abundance and variety of its produce, and the inhabitants, following the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, lived in their fertile and sequestered valley, according to the Zidonian style of ease and security, happy among themselves, and maintaining little or no communication with the rest of the world. The discovery of this northern paradise seemed, to the delight of the Danite spies, an accomplishment of the priest's prediction. They hastened back to inform their brethren in the south both of the value of their prize, and how easily it could be made their prey.
11
無標題
11-21. 但族……六百人從那裏出去——這是配備兵器、參與這次征伐行動的男丁總數，並不包括移民的家眷與家什
（士18:21）。
他們經過猶大境內，第一處歇腳之地在基列耶琳「後面」，即西邊，那地方後來稱為「但營」。他們沿北線進發，繞過以法蓮山地的山腳。臨近米迦住所一帶時，探子們告知那裏有一私家聖所，那裏的祭司在他們探路時曾大力相助；眾人一致認為，無論是這位祭司還是其中的陳設，對他們將要建立的居所都是寶貴的收穫。劫掠之計立時定下。武裝的人在門口站崗，五名探子闖入聖堂，劫走神像與聖衣，又以誘人的條件收買了祭司，使他轉而事奉他們的新殖民地。他接手以弗得、神像和雕刻的像，「走在百姓中間」——這位於隊伍中央的位置，或許是為他自身的安全；但更可能是仿照曠野行軍時祭司與約櫃在會眾各支派中間所安排的位置。這次偷盜呈現出低劣道德與強烈宗教感情的奇特混雜。但人正體現了人性中根深蒂固的一項原則——人有宗教感情，必須有對象來運用；而他們在選擇對象上往往並不太加分辨。宗教對人心的影響力越薄弱，外在儀式便越被看重；而良心在嚴格遵守這些儀式時便完全滿足，幾乎從不會因破壞了次要的道德而受攪擾。
英文原文
11-21. there went from thence of the family of the Danites . . . six hundred men--This was the collective number of the men who were equipped with arms to carry out this expeditionary enterprise, without including the families and furniture of the emigrants
(Jud 18:21).
Their journey led them through the territory of Judah, and their first halting place was "behind," that is, on the west of Kirjath-jearim, on a spot called afterwards "the camp of Dan." Prosecuting the northern route, they skirted the base of the Ephraimite hills. On approaching the neighborhood of Micah's residence, the spies having given information that a private sanctuary was kept there, the priest of which had rendered them important service when on their exploring expedition, it was unanimously agreed that both he and the furniture of the establishment would be a valuable acquisition to their proposed settlement. A plan of spoliation was immediately formed. While the armed men stood sentinels at the gates, the five spies broke into the chapel, pillaged the images and vestments, and succeeded in bribing the priest also by a tempting offer to transfer his services to their new colony. Taking charge of the ephod, the teraphim, and the graven image, he "went in the midst of the people"--a central position assigned him in the march, perhaps for his personal security; but more probably in imitation of the place appointed for the priests and the ark, in the middle of the congregated tribes, on the marches through the wilderness. This theft presents a curious medley of low morality and strong religious feeling. The Danites exemplified a deep-seated principle of our nature--that men have religious affections, which must have an object on which these may be exercised, while they are often not very discriminating in the choice of the objects. In proportion to the slender influence religion wields over the heart, the greater is the importance attached to external rites; and in the exact observance of these, the conscience is fully satisfied, and seldom or never molested by reflections on the breach of minor morals.
22
無標題
22-26. 米迦住宅近旁屋內的人聚集——劫掠神堂的人很快被發現，米迦隨即率領相當多的隨從展開激烈的追趕。他們樂於參與奪回失物的行動，這使人推測這神堂的便利一向向鄰近所有的人開放；而米迦像拉班那樣，對他的家神神像何等重視，從他追趕盜賊的迫切、以及冒生命危險試圖取回它們一事，便可見一斑。 然而他發現自己的人手不是但人的對手，便認為還是知難而退為妙，因他深知當時那地流行的規則：
「有力量者當取，
能守住者當留。」
英文原文
22-26. the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together--The robbers of the chapel being soon detected, a hot pursuit was forthwith commenced by Micah, at the head of a considerable body of followers. The readiness with which they joined in the attempt to recover the stolen articles affords a presumption that the advantages of the chapel had been open to all in the neighborhood; and the importance which Micah, like Laban, attached to his teraphim, is seen by the urgency with which he pursued the thieves, and the risk of his life in attempting to procure their restoration. Finding his party, however, not a match for the Danites, he thought it prudent to desist, well knowing the rule which was then prevalent in the land, that
"They should take who had the power,
And they should keep who could."
27
Jud 18:27-29.
Jud 18:27-29.
他們攻取拉億。
27. 他們……來到拉億……擊殺他們——即擊殺當地居民。
放火燒了那城——「我們對這次入侵和屠殺一群安寧無虞之民的行徑感到震驚。然而，若說神當初將迦南賜給以色列人的應許，為這項事業提供了屬神差遣與命令的依據，那便使一切都成為聖潔，使一切都合法化了」[查麥士]。 這地方似乎是西頓的屬地，然而因距離遙遠，在突發的危急中根本不可能從那裡得到救援。
英文原文
Jud 18:27-29.
THEY WIN LAISH.
27. they . . . came unto Laish . . . smote them--the inhabitants.
and burnt the city--"We are revolted by this inroad and massacre of a quiet and secure people. Nevertheless, if the original grant of Canaan to the Israelites gave them the warrant of a divine commission and command for this enterprise, that sanctifies all and legalizes all" [CHALMERS]. This place seems to have been a dependency of Zidon, the distance of which, however, rendered it impossible to obtain aid thence in the sudden emergency.
28
無標題
28, 29. 他們建造那城，……給那城起名叫但——那城位於那地的北端，因此產生了「從但到別是巴」這句成語。
英文原文
28, 29. they built a city, and . . . call the name of that city Dan--It was in the northern extremity of the land, and hence the origin of the phrase, "from Dan to Beer-sheba."
30
Jud 18:30, 31.
Jud 18:30, 31.
他們設立偶像。
30, 31. 但人就設立那雕刻的像——他們地處偏遠，與其餘以色列人隔絕，毫無疑問，這正是他們不去示羅的藉口，也是偶像崇拜在他們中間延續許多代的緣由。
英文原文
Jud 18:30, 31.
THEY SET UP IDOLATRY.
30, 31. the children of Dan set up the graven image--Their distance secluded them from the rest of the Israelites, and doubtless this, which was their apology for not going to Shiloh, was the cause of perpetuating idolatry among them for many generations.
Jud 18:1-26.
但人尋求產業。
1-6. 那時……但人尋得可居住的產業——但支派與其他支派一樣，也分得了一塊地業。但他們或因懶惰，或因缺少活力，並未完全取得所分之地，反倒因強鄰非利士人的蠶食，被奪去相當一部分。結果因地域狹迫，就有相當數目的人決心在遠方另覓一處新的居所。他們派出了一小隊人前去偵察全境，途中北上，到了米迦的住所。他們認出米迦的祭司是舊識，或許因他的鄉音，便熱切地請他為眼前這趟征途占卜結果。他的回答看似美好，實為虛謊，如同異教神諭一般模稜兩可。這一舉動比米迦的分裂之舉更清楚、更充分地顯出當時可悲的墮落。但支派對一個利未人竟敢僭取祭司職分、對設立一個與示羅相抗衡的祭壇，既不驚訝，也不憤慨。他們竟想藉著神像去尋求那些只能藉著大祭司的烏陵才可合法求問的信息。由此可見，他們與米迦在觀念與習慣上同樣錯誤，顯出宗教的低落，以及迷信在遍地盛行。