Definition: Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that [were] therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and [there was] no magistrate in the land, that might put [them] to shame in [any] thing; and they [were] far from the Zidonians, and had no business with [any] man.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Judges 18:7. It’s a really important passage about a group of people who were causing trouble and being disrespectful. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Story: This verse describes a group of five men who were traveling in the wilderness and came to a place called Laish. They were observing the people living there. What they saw was incredibly unsettling – these people weren't taking their responsibilities seriously, and they seemed quite careless. Let’s unpack it: “Then the five men departed…” : This tells us that these men left a place. "...and came to Laish…” : Laish was a location – probably a small settlement or village. “…and saw the people that [were] therein, how they dwelt careless…” : This is key. The five men watched the people in Laish and realized they were not taking things seriously. They weren’t working hard, weren't respectful of their duties, and seemed to be living a lazy, unorganized way of life. They were basically drifting along without any rules or authority. "...after the manner of the Zidonians…” : This is where it gets interesting. The Zidonians are a group of people in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) known for being powerful and independent. They weren't concerned with following laws, so this suggests these people were acting like they didn’t have to obey any rules or authority. "...quiet and secure…” : They were living in a peaceful, undisturbed way, without any problems or conflicts. "and [there was] no magistrate in the land, that might put [them] to shame in any thing..." : This is the most important part. The five men saw that these people weren’t being held accountable for their actions. They weren't facing any consequences, which meant they were essentially free from any punishment or oversight. "...and they [were] far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.” : They were isolated and completely separate from the established order of the Zidonians – meaning they weren’t part of their society or community. They didn't have a place to belong or interact with anyone. Overall Meaning: The verse describes a group of people who were acting disrespectfully, recklessly, and without any authority. They were essentially creating chaos and disorder because they weren’t taking their responsibilities seriously. It highlights a warning about the dangers of lax governance and the importance of respecting established rules and order. In short: These men were causing trouble by being careless and not following proper procedures. The verse warns that this behavior could lead to problems down the road. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of the verse in more detail? Connect this verse to other Bible stories or teachings? Discuss what this passage might mean for us today?