Micah’s Idols

17 Now a man named Micah^(A) from the hill country of Ephraim

² So the Danites^(A) sent five of their leading men^(B) from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out^(C) the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”^(D)

So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah,^(E) where they spent the night.

Tola

10 After the time of Abimelek,^(A) a man of Issachar^(B) named Tola son of Puah,^(C) the son of Dodo, rose to save^(D) Israel. He lived in Shamir,^(E) in the hill country of Ephraim.

¹⁴ The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”^(A)

¹⁵ “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest^(B) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites^(C) and Rephaites.^(D)”

¹⁶ The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron,^(E) both those in Beth Shan^(F) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”^(G)

¹⁷ But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment^{(H) 18} but the forested hill country^(I) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron^(J) and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”