April 30, 2025 • 21 mins
# 139 - The Danites Attack - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, we witness a tribe’s restless search for a home turn into theft, violence, and idolatry. As ambition and compromise replace trust in God, the story challenges us to consider what happens when we trade His promises for temporary gain.
Episode 139 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
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Show Notes:
(02:01) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:51) The Danites Attack
(11:45) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and
be content with what you have, because God has said,
never will I leave you, never will I forsake you
Hebrews thirteen five. Lord God, you are the giver of
every good and perfect gift, the one who holds the
(00:25):
universe in your hands and yet sees the depths of
every heart. Forgive us for the times we grasp for
what isn't ours, for the idols we build out of fear, pride,
or discontent. Like wandering sheep, we often stray from the
(00:48):
paths You've marked, searching for meaning in places where your
voice has not called us. We confess our need for you,
for your guidance, your mercy, and your wisdom to walk
in the way everlasting. Father, teach us to be content
(01:09):
with what you've provided, to trust in your timing, and
to rest in the truth of your promises. Stir in
us a holy conviction to seek first your kingdom, not
for our own comfort or gain. Thank you for being steadfast, unchanging,
(01:35):
and full of grace. Lead us into the joy of
knowing that you are enough now and forever. Amen, Thank
you for praying with me today. You're listening to the
chosen people with y l xteen remain here for a
(01:59):
dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Be sure to follow
this podcast so you never miss an.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Episode previously on the Chosen People. The Judges of Israel
grew darker and more twisted with each passing generation. Heroes
became villains, and villains left Israel bound in sin. Yet
the God of Israel would not leave his people forever.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
An image, a great and shining image, overlaid with silver
to honor the Lord. It will stand in a shrine,
and people will come from far and wide to worship.
You will be the guardian of this altar Micah. You
will lead the people in their devotion.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
He had no love for the True God of Israel,
no understanding of his ways. That day, the silver was
carried to a smith, and by fire and hammer an
idol was. The cawing of crows broke the silence as
a lone figure emerged from the mist. His staff tapped
the earth in a slow, steady rhythm. He was a
(03:10):
Levite from Bethlehem, a man who had once been set
apart for the service of God, but now wandered the
land as a cell sword of the Spirit, offering his
priestly skills to the highest bidder. His eyes fell upon
Micah's shrine as he traveled, and he paused a.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
True Levite. The Lord has sent you to me. I
am certain of it. Stay here, live among us. I
will give you silver five shekels a year, along with
food and fine clothes. You will oversee my shrine and
serve as a priest in my household.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
If the people truly need a priest, then hies and
homes I must accept.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
For the Lord.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Their worship was a far cry from what Moses had commanded.
It was a hollow, lewde and self serving practice.
Speaker 7 (04:13):
When we exchange the holy for convenient, who do we become? Shelloh,
my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel,
I'm l extein with international fellowship of Christians and Jews,
and welcome to the Chosen people. The wilderness reveals what
lies hidden in the heart in Judges eighteen. The story
(04:34):
of the Danites and the Levite is no exception. A
people without rest, a priest without conviction, a house of idols.
What happens when those entrusted with leading others to God
lose their way? What happens when an entire tribe rejects
its inheritance in search of something better. But even in
(04:57):
the midst of kaa Sam compromise today's story with the
first truths about justice, about devotion, and about what happens
when we forget who we are and.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Whose we are.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Five figures moved through the mist with a predator's silence.
They were not traders or shepherds, but spies. They were
men of war, sent from the tribe of Dan. Their
people had wandered for generations, restless and landless, seeking a
place to call their own. Now they prowled through the
(05:35):
hill country, searching for weaknesses, opportunities pray. The levites saw
them first. He stood at the shrine, tending to the candles,
his breath visible in the morning chill. When the men
emerged from the fog, his grip tightened on his staff.
One of the spies stepped forward, his hand resting lightly
(05:57):
on the hilt of a dagger.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
Hello, there, we heard. This place is where one enquires
of the will of God.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It is I am, the levite of this shrine.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
What is it you seek?
Speaker 6 (06:12):
We are of the tribe of Dan. We seek a
place to dwell, land to call our own. Tell us, priest,
will our journey be successful, whether Lord grant us favor.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
The Levite's heart sank. He could feel the threat behind
their request. He swallowed hard, then raised his hands in
a gesture of blessing.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Go in peace.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Your journey has.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
The Lord's approval.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
The spies bowed their heads in thanks. As the Levite
watched them go, a not of unease tightened in his chest.
He didn't know that his words had set events in
motion that would bring ruin to MICA's house and judgment
upon Layish. Under the cover of night, the spies of
(07:01):
Dan came to the city of Layish. Layish was a
Sidonian city, prosperous and isolated, its people secure in their
wealth and peace. They had no enemies, no defenses, no fear.
It was the perfect place for the wayward tribe of
Dan to stake its flag. The spies crouched in the shadows,
(07:23):
their eyes scanning the city. They saw the fertile fields,
the flowing streams, the unguarded homes.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
It's perfect. They have no walls, no warriors. The sland
is right for the taking.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
The army of Dan moved like a shadow across the land.
Six hundred men armed with spears and shields toward the
Sidonian city of Layish. Before the Danites reached their target,
they passed through the hill country of Ephraim, where Micah's
house and shrine lay nestled by the roadside. The spies paused,
(07:57):
exchanging knowing glances.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Those gates lies, a silver idle, an ephart, a household god.
Why should we go to battle without the favor of heaven?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
The men murmured their agreement, and the spies led the
way toward Micah's home. The Levite awoke to the sound
of their approach. He rubbed his eyes and looked out
the window, his heart sinking at the sight of so
many armed men. Quickly he dressed and hurried to the
room where the idle and sacred objects were kept. But
(08:30):
it was already too late. The Spies had entered the house.
The largest among them stood guard, his hand on the
hilt of his sword, while the others seized the silver
idol and bundled the ephod and household gods into sachs.
The Levite burst into the room.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
What are you doing?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
If these are consecrated to the whitehat?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
The old how simply tates it?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
One of the spies turned to him, his face calm
but his blade unsheathed. He stepped forward, the point of
his sword glinting in the firelight, and pressed it lightly
to the Levite's throat.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
Be silent, priest, unless you wish to join your gods
in captivity, you will bring ruin upon yourselves. Is that soon?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Of course, you have no priest to oversee the rights.
Speaker 7 (09:21):
You have no idea how to consult the Lord.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Why waste your loyalty on a single man. We've heard
whispers that Micah is nothing but a madman. Wouldn't you
rather serve an entire tribe of Israel? Come with us.
We could pay you more than Micah, ever could.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
The Levite hesitated, his eyes darting between the idol, the
spies and the growing crowd of dan Eited soldiers. His
fear melted into something colder, sharper ambition. Slowly, a smile
crept across his face. He nodded slowly, and a wicked
(09:59):
grin spread across the Danite's face. Come on, Together, they
carried the silver idol out of the house. The Danite
soldiers erupted into cheers when they saw the idol. Their
voices loud enough to wake the dead. Micah woke to
the sound of their shouts. He saw the idol and
the levite being led away. A cry of anguish escaped
(10:22):
his lips.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
WHOA, what are you doing?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
The men were already too far for him to stop alone,
so he grabbed his horn and blew a loud blast,
summoning his neighbors.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
They've stolen the shrine. They've taken or God after them.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
A hundred men gathered quickly, swords at their sides and
horses saddled. Though they had little love for Micah, they
had grown fond of the shrine and the superstition had
fed Together, they rode after the Danites, torches blazing in
the darkness. The Danites steadily away from Micah's village, but
(11:03):
soon they heard the thunder of hoofs behind them and
the wail of a horn.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
We as company, Brace yourselves, men.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
The Danites halted, their six hundred swords glinting in the
torchlight as they turned to face the pursuers. Micah and
his neighbors arrived moments later. Micah dismounted, his face contorted
with rage and desperation.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
You have something that belongs to me. Returned my gods,
return my priest. Go home before you get hurt. Old man, No,
you took the gods I made and the priest I
or deigned.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
What else do I have?
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You're a fool? Do you see the men who stand
with me?
Speaker 6 (11:50):
If you continue this madness, will kill you, your family
and everyone who follows you.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Do you understand?
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Micah looked around his neighbors, shifting unease in their saddles.
Their courage faltered under the cold glare of the Danite blades. Slowly,
Micah lowered his sword, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Tears
welled in his eyes as he looked at the silver idol.
Now a prize.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
Of war, That's what I thought out.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
The army marched on the levite, passed Micah without a glance,
his face cold and impassive. Micah sank to his knees
in the dirt. The neighbors who had ridden with him
turned their horses and rode home. He sat there for hours,
staring after the Danites until the horizons swallowed their torches.
(12:43):
The Danites came upon Layish under cover of darkness. Six
hundred men surrounded it at a signal from their leader,
the Danites attacked. They poured into the city like a flood,
their swords cutting down the Sidonians, who stumbled out of
their homes in confusion. The Danides said the city, ablaze
(13:05):
by dawn Layish, was no more. Its people were slaughtered,
its wealth seized, its fertile lands claimed by the tribe
of dan. The Danites rebuilt the city, naming it after
their ancestor. In the center of their new home, they
erected Micah's silver idol, placing it on a pedestal for
(13:28):
all to see. The levied stood before the idol, his
expression unreadable as he offered sacrifices. He had found his
place among the Danites, but the cost of his service
echoed in the hollow chambers of his heart. Micah meanwhile,
returned to his empty shrine, his head bowed in shame.
(13:50):
The road stretched before him, barren and silent, a reflection
of the soul of Israel. For they did what was
right in their their own eyes, and the heart of
God was far from them.
Speaker 7 (14:08):
Judges is about to venture into some peculiar territory. These
stories are going to become less about heroes and villains
and more about the slow descent into the madness that
comes after decades of compromise. The stories the beginning of
the end a Canarian the coal mine for the people
of Israel. Let's start with the question what happens to
(14:30):
people when they forget their story. The Danites were supposed
to be warriors. Their land was marked out, a promise,
sealed and covenant. But instead of driving out the inhabitants,
they wandered, searching for an easier inheritance. They weren't just
looking for land, they were looking for identity and the
(14:52):
Levite he was the son of a Levy, called to
serve in holiness, to be a bridge between our people
and God. Instead, he let himself be bought first by
Micah and then by wandering tribe. The irony is crushing.
The Levite knew the Torah. He would have known the
(15:12):
words found in Deuterotomy, where it says that the Levites
have God himself as their inheritance, and yet he exchanged
that for a few coins and the approval of men.
That is maybe the part of this chapter that bothers me.
The most spiritual leadership is calling. It's a calling, It's
(15:37):
not merely a job. Do you see it. The story
isn't about ancient Israel. It's about every moment, when we
trade the eternal for the immediate, when we, like Esau,
sell our birthright for a bull of soup. Micah thought
the Idols would bring him security. The Danites thought a
new city would bring them peace.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
But it's all a.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
Delusion, because without God at the center, everything becomes chaos.
There's one more shocking detail that I'd like to share
about this story. The Jewish ages identify this priest, whose
name was Yontan, as a grandson of Moses himself. First
of all, this goes to show just how low the
(16:20):
Israelites had fallen spiritually during this relatively short period. But
it also shows how temptation for money and status can
blind someone to the evil of his deeds, even a
holy man, even a grandson of Moses. It shows that
each of us must work to resist the temptations that
(16:42):
k havoc in our relationships with one another and with God.
The story of the Danites and the Levite forces us
to see ourselves not as we wish to be, but
as we are, imperfect human lost in need of God,
(17:03):
a wandering tribe dissatisfied with their inheritance, a priest for
sale to the highest bidder house of idols, promising protection
but delivering ruine.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
What do we do?
Speaker 7 (17:15):
And the Word of God holds up a mirror and
it's not just stories from the past, but we actually
see our own messy faces staring back. Here's the truth,
my friends. The Levite sin wasn't just a betrayal of
his calling. It was deeper, It was subtle. He traded
the eternal for the immediate. The Levites traded the sacred
(17:39):
for the convenient. And the Danites their failure wasn't just
the theft of idols or their violence against an unsuspecting people.
It was their rejection of their inheritance, the very land
that God himself had given them as a promise. It
says it very clearly in Deuterotomy when it warns us,
(18:01):
when you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord
your God for the good land that he has given you.
Be careful that you don't forget the Lord your God.
Visavata uverrajta etashem e lookecha is the way you say
that verse in Hebrew. And the people in this story
they forgot, They forgot to eat, be full and then
(18:25):
thank God. And in forgetting, they turned to idols. But idols,
whether they're carved from silver or crafted in the human heart,
they are always alie. They promise security, but they bring chaos.
They promise freedom, but they demand worship. The Levite knew this,
(18:48):
yet he chose to serve false gods for comfort and
for a steady paycheck. The Danites knew better too. They
were warriors of Israel, called to trust God and drive
out the canons from their inheritance. But instead of stepping
into faith, they stepped away from it. They wanted a shortcut,
an easier victory. And don't we do the same. Don't
(19:12):
we grasp at what we can see because it feels
more certain than believing in the unseen promises of God.
Don't we too, cling to idols to our jobs, our relationships,
our reputations because trusting him feels a little bit too risky.
But here's the tragedy. Idols will never deliver. They can't
(19:35):
Mike Gauz. Silver gods couldn't protect him, and the dam
Nites stolen sitting, couldn't secure their future, and the Levites
compromise left them empty. Only God can satisfy the restless
ache of the human soul. But here's the good news.
God doesn't abandon us, and he doesn't abandon the Chosen People.
(19:59):
The Levite failed yes, the Danites failed to yes, and
yet God's grace is bigger than their mistakes. Maybe you've
traded your calling for comfort. Maybe you've let fear or
ambition lead you away from God's promises. But I want
you to know, and to believe, and to feel and
(20:19):
to trust. It's not too late. You can always return
to God. His arms are wide open. So come back.
Trust in God's promises and find the rest that you've
been searching for, not in what you can achieve, but
in the one who holds you in his hands.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
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(21:08):
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(21:29):
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(21:50):
Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and
be content with what you have, because God has said,
never will I leave you, never will I forsake you
Hebrews thirteen five. Lord God, you are the giver of
every good and perfect gift, the one who holds the
(00:25):
universe in your hands and yet sees the depths of
every heart. Forgive us for the times we grasp for
what isn't ours, for the idols we build out of fear, pride,
or discontent. Like wandering sheep, we often stray from the
(00:48):
paths You've marked, searching for meaning in places where your
voice has not called us. We confess our need for you,
for your guidance, your mercy, and your wisdom to walk
in the way everlasting. Father, teach us to be content
(01:09):
with what you've provided, to trust in your timing, and
to rest in the truth of your promises. Stir in
us a holy conviction to seek first your kingdom, not
for our own comfort or gain. Thank you for being steadfast, unchanging,
(01:35):
and full of grace. Lead us into the joy of
knowing that you are enough now and forever. Amen, Thank
you for praying with me today. You're listening to the
chosen people with y l xteen remain here for a
(01:59):
dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Be sure to follow
this podcast so you never miss an.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Episode previously on the Chosen People. The Judges of Israel
grew darker and more twisted with each passing generation. Heroes
became villains, and villains left Israel bound in sin. Yet
the God of Israel would not leave his people forever.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
An image, a great and shining image, overlaid with silver
to honor the Lord. It will stand in a shrine,
and people will come from far and wide to worship.
You will be the guardian of this altar Micah. You
will lead the people in their devotion.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
He had no love for the True God of Israel,
no understanding of his ways. That day, the silver was
carried to a smith, and by fire and hammer an
idol was. The cawing of crows broke the silence as
a lone figure emerged from the mist. His staff tapped
the earth in a slow, steady rhythm. He was a
(03:10):
Levite from Bethlehem, a man who had once been set
apart for the service of God, but now wandered the
land as a cell sword of the Spirit, offering his
priestly skills to the highest bidder. His eyes fell upon
Micah's shrine as he traveled, and he paused a.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
True Levite. The Lord has sent you to me. I
am certain of it. Stay here, live among us. I
will give you silver five shekels a year, along with
food and fine clothes. You will oversee my shrine and
serve as a priest in my household.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
If the people truly need a priest, then hies and
homes I must accept.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
For the Lord.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Their worship was a far cry from what Moses had commanded.
It was a hollow, lewde and self serving practice.
Speaker 7 (04:13):
When we exchange the holy for convenient, who do we become? Shelloh,
my friends, from here in the holy land of Israel,
I'm l extein with international fellowship of Christians and Jews,
and welcome to the Chosen people. The wilderness reveals what
lies hidden in the heart in Judges eighteen. The story
(04:34):
of the Danites and the Levite is no exception. A
people without rest, a priest without conviction, a house of idols.
What happens when those entrusted with leading others to God
lose their way? What happens when an entire tribe rejects
its inheritance in search of something better. But even in
(04:57):
the midst of kaa Sam compromise today's story with the
first truths about justice, about devotion, and about what happens
when we forget who we are and.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Whose we are.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Five figures moved through the mist with a predator's silence.
They were not traders or shepherds, but spies. They were
men of war, sent from the tribe of Dan. Their
people had wandered for generations, restless and landless, seeking a
place to call their own. Now they prowled through the
(05:35):
hill country, searching for weaknesses, opportunities pray. The levites saw
them first. He stood at the shrine, tending to the candles,
his breath visible in the morning chill. When the men
emerged from the fog, his grip tightened on his staff.
One of the spies stepped forward, his hand resting lightly
(05:57):
on the hilt of a dagger.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
Hello, there, we heard. This place is where one enquires
of the will of God.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It is I am, the levite of this shrine.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
What is it you seek?
Speaker 6 (06:12):
We are of the tribe of Dan. We seek a
place to dwell, land to call our own. Tell us, priest,
will our journey be successful, whether Lord grant us favor.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
The Levite's heart sank. He could feel the threat behind
their request. He swallowed hard, then raised his hands in
a gesture of blessing.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
Go in peace.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Your journey has.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
The Lord's approval.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
The spies bowed their heads in thanks. As the Levite
watched them go, a not of unease tightened in his chest.
He didn't know that his words had set events in
motion that would bring ruin to MICA's house and judgment
upon Layish. Under the cover of night, the spies of
(07:01):
Dan came to the city of Layish. Layish was a
Sidonian city, prosperous and isolated, its people secure in their
wealth and peace. They had no enemies, no defenses, no fear.
It was the perfect place for the wayward tribe of
Dan to stake its flag. The spies crouched in the shadows,
(07:23):
their eyes scanning the city. They saw the fertile fields,
the flowing streams, the unguarded homes.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
It's perfect. They have no walls, no warriors. The sland
is right for the taking.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
The army of Dan moved like a shadow across the land.
Six hundred men armed with spears and shields toward the
Sidonian city of Layish. Before the Danites reached their target,
they passed through the hill country of Ephraim, where Micah's
house and shrine lay nestled by the roadside. The spies paused,
(07:57):
exchanging knowing glances.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Those gates lies, a silver idle, an ephart, a household god.
Why should we go to battle without the favor of heaven?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
The men murmured their agreement, and the spies led the
way toward Micah's home. The Levite awoke to the sound
of their approach. He rubbed his eyes and looked out
the window, his heart sinking at the sight of so
many armed men. Quickly he dressed and hurried to the
room where the idle and sacred objects were kept. But
(08:30):
it was already too late. The Spies had entered the house.
The largest among them stood guard, his hand on the
hilt of his sword, while the others seized the silver
idol and bundled the ephod and household gods into sachs.
The Levite burst into the room.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
What are you doing?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
If these are consecrated to the whitehat?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
The old how simply tates it?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
One of the spies turned to him, his face calm
but his blade unsheathed. He stepped forward, the point of
his sword glinting in the firelight, and pressed it lightly
to the Levite's throat.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
Be silent, priest, unless you wish to join your gods
in captivity, you will bring ruin upon yourselves. Is that soon?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Of course, you have no priest to oversee the rights.
Speaker 7 (09:21):
You have no idea how to consult the Lord.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
Why waste your loyalty on a single man. We've heard
whispers that Micah is nothing but a madman. Wouldn't you
rather serve an entire tribe of Israel? Come with us.
We could pay you more than Micah, ever could.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
The Levite hesitated, his eyes darting between the idol, the
spies and the growing crowd of dan Eited soldiers. His
fear melted into something colder, sharper ambition. Slowly, a smile
crept across his face. He nodded slowly, and a wicked
(09:59):
grin spread across the Danite's face. Come on, Together, they
carried the silver idol out of the house. The Danite
soldiers erupted into cheers when they saw the idol. Their
voices loud enough to wake the dead. Micah woke to
the sound of their shouts. He saw the idol and
the levite being led away. A cry of anguish escaped
(10:22):
his lips.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
WHOA, what are you doing?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
The men were already too far for him to stop alone,
so he grabbed his horn and blew a loud blast,
summoning his neighbors.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
They've stolen the shrine. They've taken or God after them.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
A hundred men gathered quickly, swords at their sides and
horses saddled. Though they had little love for Micah, they
had grown fond of the shrine and the superstition had
fed Together, they rode after the Danites, torches blazing in
the darkness. The Danites steadily away from Micah's village, but
(11:03):
soon they heard the thunder of hoofs behind them and
the wail of a horn.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
We as company, Brace yourselves, men.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
The Danites halted, their six hundred swords glinting in the
torchlight as they turned to face the pursuers. Micah and
his neighbors arrived moments later. Micah dismounted, his face contorted
with rage and desperation.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
You have something that belongs to me. Returned my gods,
return my priest. Go home before you get hurt. Old man, No,
you took the gods I made and the priest I
or deigned.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
What else do I have?
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You're a fool? Do you see the men who stand
with me?
Speaker 6 (11:50):
If you continue this madness, will kill you, your family
and everyone who follows you.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Do you understand?
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Micah looked around his neighbors, shifting unease in their saddles.
Their courage faltered under the cold glare of the Danite blades. Slowly,
Micah lowered his sword, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Tears
welled in his eyes as he looked at the silver idol.
Now a prize.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
Of war, That's what I thought out.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
The army marched on the levite, passed Micah without a glance,
his face cold and impassive. Micah sank to his knees
in the dirt. The neighbors who had ridden with him
turned their horses and rode home. He sat there for hours,
staring after the Danites until the horizons swallowed their torches.
(12:43):
The Danites came upon Layish under cover of darkness. Six
hundred men surrounded it at a signal from their leader,
the Danites attacked. They poured into the city like a flood,
their swords cutting down the Sidonians, who stumbled out of
their homes in confusion. The Danides said the city, ablaze
(13:05):
by dawn Layish, was no more. Its people were slaughtered,
its wealth seized, its fertile lands claimed by the tribe
of dan. The Danites rebuilt the city, naming it after
their ancestor. In the center of their new home, they
erected Micah's silver idol, placing it on a pedestal for
(13:28):
all to see. The levied stood before the idol, his
expression unreadable as he offered sacrifices. He had found his
place among the Danites, but the cost of his service
echoed in the hollow chambers of his heart. Micah meanwhile,
returned to his empty shrine, his head bowed in shame.
(13:50):
The road stretched before him, barren and silent, a reflection
of the soul of Israel. For they did what was
right in their their own eyes, and the heart of
God was far from them.
Speaker 7 (14:08):
Judges is about to venture into some peculiar territory. These
stories are going to become less about heroes and villains
and more about the slow descent into the madness that
comes after decades of compromise. The stories the beginning of
the end a Canarian the coal mine for the people
of Israel. Let's start with the question what happens to
(14:30):
people when they forget their story. The Danites were supposed
to be warriors. Their land was marked out, a promise,
sealed and covenant. But instead of driving out the inhabitants,
they wandered, searching for an easier inheritance. They weren't just
looking for land, they were looking for identity and the
(14:52):
Levite he was the son of a Levy, called to
serve in holiness, to be a bridge between our people
and God. Instead, he let himself be bought first by
Micah and then by wandering tribe. The irony is crushing.
The Levite knew the Torah. He would have known the
(15:12):
words found in Deuterotomy, where it says that the Levites
have God himself as their inheritance, and yet he exchanged
that for a few coins and the approval of men.
That is maybe the part of this chapter that bothers me.
The most spiritual leadership is calling. It's a calling, It's
(15:37):
not merely a job. Do you see it. The story
isn't about ancient Israel. It's about every moment, when we
trade the eternal for the immediate, when we, like Esau,
sell our birthright for a bull of soup. Micah thought
the Idols would bring him security. The Danites thought a
new city would bring them peace.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
But it's all a.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
Delusion, because without God at the center, everything becomes chaos.
There's one more shocking detail that I'd like to share
about this story. The Jewish ages identify this priest, whose
name was Yontan, as a grandson of Moses himself. First
of all, this goes to show just how low the
(16:20):
Israelites had fallen spiritually during this relatively short period. But
it also shows how temptation for money and status can
blind someone to the evil of his deeds, even a
holy man, even a grandson of Moses. It shows that
each of us must work to resist the temptations that
(16:42):
k havoc in our relationships with one another and with God.
The story of the Danites and the Levite forces us
to see ourselves not as we wish to be, but
as we are, imperfect human lost in need of God,
(17:03):
a wandering tribe dissatisfied with their inheritance, a priest for
sale to the highest bidder house of idols, promising protection
but delivering ruine.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
What do we do?
Speaker 7 (17:15):
And the Word of God holds up a mirror and
it's not just stories from the past, but we actually
see our own messy faces staring back. Here's the truth,
my friends. The Levite sin wasn't just a betrayal of
his calling. It was deeper, It was subtle. He traded
the eternal for the immediate. The Levites traded the sacred
(17:39):
for the convenient. And the Danites their failure wasn't just
the theft of idols or their violence against an unsuspecting people.
It was their rejection of their inheritance, the very land
that God himself had given them as a promise. It
says it very clearly in Deuterotomy when it warns us,
(18:01):
when you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord
your God for the good land that he has given you.
Be careful that you don't forget the Lord your God.
Visavata uverrajta etashem e lookecha is the way you say
that verse in Hebrew. And the people in this story
they forgot, They forgot to eat, be full and then
(18:25):
thank God. And in forgetting, they turned to idols. But idols,
whether they're carved from silver or crafted in the human heart,
they are always alie. They promise security, but they bring chaos.
They promise freedom, but they demand worship. The Levite knew this,
(18:48):
yet he chose to serve false gods for comfort and
for a steady paycheck. The Danites knew better too. They
were warriors of Israel, called to trust God and drive
out the canons from their inheritance. But instead of stepping
into faith, they stepped away from it. They wanted a shortcut,
an easier victory. And don't we do the same. Don't
(19:12):
we grasp at what we can see because it feels
more certain than believing in the unseen promises of God.
Don't we too, cling to idols to our jobs, our relationships,
our reputations because trusting him feels a little bit too risky.
But here's the tragedy. Idols will never deliver. They can't
(19:35):
Mike Gauz. Silver gods couldn't protect him, and the dam
Nites stolen sitting, couldn't secure their future, and the Levites
compromise left them empty. Only God can satisfy the restless
ache of the human soul. But here's the good news.
God doesn't abandon us, and he doesn't abandon the Chosen People.
(19:59):
The Levite failed yes, the Danites failed to yes, and
yet God's grace is bigger than their mistakes. Maybe you've
traded your calling for comfort. Maybe you've let fear or
ambition lead you away from God's promises. But I want
you to know, and to believe, and to feel and
(20:19):
to trust. It's not too late. You can always return
to God. His arms are wide open. So come back.
Trust in God's promises and find the rest that you've
been searching for, not in what you can achieve, but
in the one who holds you in his hands.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Pray dot
Com app today. This prey dot Com production is only
made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabager, and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of the Chosen People with Yiele Eckstein, Edited by
(21:08):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(21:29):
written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows,
Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions
on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple
App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
(21:50):
Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
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