שופטים, פרק י״ח, פסוק י״ד

The five men who previously scouted the land approach their brethren to report a significant discovery nearby. The city they originally went to spy out was Laish, which is the same city known as Leshem in the Book of Joshua. Its name was eventually changed to Dan in honor of the tribe's patriarch [רלב״ג]. It was specifically their earlier mission as scouts that enabled them to uncover this new information, as they had already consulted the local oracles during their initial tour [מלבי״ם].

Initiating the conversation rather than responding to any prior question [מצודת ציון], the scouts pose a rhetorical question to their brothers. They point out that the group is completely unaware of what lies right in front of them [מצודת דוד]. The scouts reveal that inside one of the nearby houses are items of religious value, including an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a cast idol, all of which could be used for their own spiritual needs [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Having shared this discovery, the scouts issue a clear directive. They urge their brothers to consider their next steps carefully, meaning they should prepare themselves to seize these religious objects and take them for their own use [מצודת דוד].