Judges 18:12

WEB

They went up, and encamped in Kiriath Jearim, in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh Dan to this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim.

KJV

And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

Commentary

And they went up and pitched in Kirjathjearim in Judah,.... Of which place see Jos 15:9 . According to Bunting (a) it was sixteen miles from Zorah and Eshtaol , and this was their first day's march: wherefore they called the name of that place Mahanehdan unto this day; which signifies the camp of Dan, or of the Danites; so it was called in the times of Samson, Jdg 13:25 and is a proof that this expedition was before his time; and it was so called, it seems, in the time of Samuel, the writer of this book: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim; to the west of it; for though they are said to pitch in that place, the meaning is, that they pitched near it, in the fields adjacent to it, which were the most proper and convenient for a camp. (a) Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 112.)