The setting changes briefly in 18:1 as new characters are introduced who will play significant roles in the continued unfolding of the story. But first, the shortened version of the refrain appears again in 18:1a, perhaps to highlight the fact that the events to be narrated will again illustrate the anarchy that results from the Lord not being honored as king.

The inability of the Danites to take possession of their allotted land has already been disclosed in Joshua 19:47 and Judges 1:34. What the tribe has done to compensate for that inability is now described in detail in 18:1b–31. The tribe decides to send out five spies to look for alternative land. The spies come to Micah’s house and decide to spend the night there. When there, they recognize the voice (perhaps the southern accent) …