שופטים, פרק י״ח, פסוק י״ז

The theft of the ritual objects from Micah's home was a carefully calculated operation executed by five spies from the tribe of Dan. They managed to secure the items by employing a clever tactical diversion. The spies, accompanied by a young Levite who had been appointed to serve as a priest [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג], first went out to meet six hundred armed men from their tribe. While the Levite stood at the gate, occupied with watching the armed soldiers [שטיינזלץ] and speaking with them, the spies seized the opportunity.

Taking advantage of his distraction, the five men doubled back. They gained access to the Levite's quarters, where the items were held, by passing directly through Micah's house [מלבי״ם]. Once inside, they went up to the specific area where the objects of worship were kept [מלבי״ם] to take the idol, the ephod, the teraphim, and the molten image [מצודת דוד] for themselves [שטיינזלץ].

Eventually, the Levite sensed that something was happening and rushed back to his quarters. However, he was too late; the spies had already escaped with the loot, slipping back out through Micah's house [מלבי״ם]. Following the successful theft, the spies did not just leave with the physical items. They also enticed the young Levite to join them, offering him the elevated position of serving as a father and priest for the entire tribe of Dan [רלב״ג].