When they were by the house of Micah is literally “They were with the house of Micah.” Most versions take the preposition “with” to mean “near” (New Jerusalem Bible), “in the vicinity of” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “at” (New Revised Standard Version). Once again the phrase the house of Micah appears, probably again with an ironic connotation. Translators may reduce the text if it seems too repetitive, for example, “When they were near Micah’s place,” “While at the house” (Revised English Bible), or “While they were there” (Good News Translation). However, doing so would remove the thematic link here.
They recognized the voice of the young Levite: This clause could mean that the spies knew the Levite, or that they recognized his accent, since they were all from the same southern region. Good News Translation takes the latter approach, saying “they recognized the accent of the young Levite.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “they knew from his accent that he was from the south.” The young Levite is literally “the young man, the Levite” (see verse 17.7). In many languages it may be more natural to speak of “the young priest.”
And they turned aside and said to him means the spies turned to speak to the Levite, but in this book the Hebrew verb rendered turned aside (sur) often indicates an irresponsible act. Samson turned aside to see the lion’s carcass filled with honey, leading him to break his Nazirite vow (verse 14.8). Here too the Danites have dubious motives. The same verb is used at verse 18.15 in a similar context. We might say “they went up to him” (Good News Translation) or “they went over to him,” but these renderings would again remove a significant thematic repetition. In this context the general verb said may be translated “asked” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation).
A series of three questions follows. A set of three questions is a common feature in the Old Testament literature (see, for example, Job 39.19-20), but it is hard to know the tone of the questions here. They could mean the Danites are surprised that the Levite is there and not in one of the cities designated for Levites. Or, there could be disapproval in their voices, since it was not normal for Levites to work for private citizens. Alternatively, the tone could be more neutral, with the men simply wondering what this Levite was doing there. At the very least the questions suggest that the Levite is in an unusual place, doing something that is not expected.
Who brought you here?: This question implies that someone is responsible for the Levite being there. Brought renders a causative form of the Hebrew verb meaning “come.” This question may be translated “Who asked you to come here?”
What are you doing in this place?: This question is more pointed. The Danites may know the young man is a priest, so they are surprised to find him there. They may be asking why he is working as a priest in a private home, rather than a recognized religious center. However, another possibility is that they are asking why he is in the north of the country, when he clearly comes from the south. The text does not give more details, so the question should be rendered as it stands.
What is your business here?: This final question is very brief in Hebrew, literally “and what to you here?” This question resembles the one Achsah’s father asked her in verse 1.14. Sometimes such expressions are a way of asking about the advantage or disadvantage of a given situation. Here it could mean “What benefit is there for you here?” or “What do you get out of being here?” However, the meaning may also be “Why are you here?” or “How does it happen you are here?” Several versions follow Revised Standard Version here (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), whose rendering seems slightly reproachful. New American Bible conveys a more neutral tone with “What is your interest here?” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version use only two questions here, omitting this one, but if possible, all three questions should be kept.
Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version reverse the order of these questions, saying “What are you doing here? Who brought you here?” Some languages make find reversing the questions gives a more natural rendering.
Translation models for this verse are:
• While they were with at Micah’s house, the Danites heard the young Levite speaking and recognized his accent. They approached him and asked, “Who sent you here? What are you doing here? Why are you here?”
• While there, they heard the young Levite speaking and they recognized his voice. So they approached him and asked him who sent him there, why he was there, and what he was doing in such a place.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .