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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.

Verse Takeaways

1

Moses' Grandson, an Idol Priest

Commentators overwhelmingly identify the priest Jonathan as the grandson of Moses. They explain that ancient Jewish scribes were so troubled by this fact that they altered the Hebrew text, adding a small, suspended letter to change the name "Moses" to "Manasseh" to protect Moses' reputation. This reveals the tragic reality of how quickly even the most prominent families in Israel could fall into sin.

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Judges

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Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Judges 18:30–31

18th Century

Theologian

In the Hebrew text, the name here rendered Manasseh is written MN)- SH. Without the "N" (nun) suspended over the line, the word may be read as Mose…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Judges 18:30

19th Century

Bishop

Set up the graven image.If this pesel was in the form of a calf, the tradition of this cult may have given gr…

John Gill

John Gill

On Judges 18:30

17th Century

Pastor

And the children of Dan set up the graven image
In their new city Dan, and very probably had a house built for it, p…

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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Judges 18:1–31

17th Century

Minister

The Danites determined to take Micah's gods with them. Oh, the folly of these Danites! How could they imagine those gods would protect them, when t…