Original Word: עֶצֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `etser
Pronunciation: EH-tser
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-tser)
KJV: + magistrate
Word Origin: [from H6113 (עָצַר - shut)]

1. restraint

magistrate

From atsar; restraint -- + magistrate.

see HEBREW atsar

Word Origin
from atsar
Definition
perhaps restraint
NASB Translation
ruler* (1).

עֶ֫צֶר noun [masculine] restraint (?), only ׳יוֺרֵשׁ ע Judges 18:7 a possessor of restraint, i.e. ruler, but ᵐ5 ᵑ9 wealth, so Thes and others, text very dubious, compare GFM Bu conjecture that ׳ע combines readings אֹצָר and עשֶׁר.

Biblical Setting

עֶצֶר appears only once, in Judges 18:7, inside the report of the five Danite spies who reconnoitered Laish. The verse describes a city that was “tranquil and unsuspecting… far from the Sidonians and had no alliance with anyone” (Berean Standard Bible). The term stands in the phrase יוֹרֵשׁ עֶצֶר, indicating that the inhabitants possessed ample resources or wealth.

Usage in Judges 18:7

The word adds an economic dimension to the description of Laish. The city was not merely undefended; it was well-supplied. Abundance, comfort, and isolation combined to create an atmosphere of complacent security—precisely the situation that enticed the Danites to attack. עֶצֶר therefore highlights the tragic irony: prosperity without vigilance produced vulnerability.

Historical Background

Laish lay at the northern extremity of Canaan, removed from both Sidonian protection and Israelite governance. Archaeology at Tell el-Qadi (ancient Laish/Dan) confirms a flourishing Late Bronze culture marked by trade with Phoenicia. Judges portrays this wealth as unmanaged by any strong ruler, exposing the town to tribal opportunism during the chaotic period “when there was no king in Israel” (Judges 18:1).

Theological Significance

1. Prosperity divorced from covenant commitment invites judgment. Laish’s riches could not shield it from sudden destruction (compare Proverbs 11:4; Zephaniah 1:18).
2. Israel’s own tribe of Dan chose a target for material rather than spiritual reasons, exposing the allure of עֶצֶר when faith is weak (see 1 Timothy 6:9–10 for the New-Testament parallel).
3. The episode anticipates later prophetic warnings that fortified cities and full storehouses are futile without reliance on the Lord (Isaiah 22:8–11; Hosea 8:14).

Practical Ministry Lessons

• Churches and families should view material plenty as stewardship, not entitlement. Security must rest in God, not reserves.
• Leaders are called to shepherd even prosperous communities, lest unguarded abundance foster apathy toward spiritual warfare (Acts 20:28–30).
• Mission strategy must account for affluent yet unreached contexts. Laish reminds believers that wealth often masks deep spiritual need.

Related Themes Elsewhere in Scripture

While עֶצֶר itself is unique, its concept aligns with:
• “Storehouses” (Genesis 41:56), underscoring God-given provision.
• “Treasures” (Proverbs 15:6), which can bless or ensnare.
• “Peace and security” that proves illusory without the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Christological Perspective

Jesus Christ warns against laying up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19–21) and offers Himself as the true storehouse of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Laish’s downfall foreshadows the emptiness of any wealth not surrendered to the King who “though He was rich, yet for your sakes became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Summary

עֶצֶר, though occurring only once, punctuates a narrative where material abundance, unmoored from covenant faithfulness and accountable leadership, becomes a catalyst for ruin. Its solitary appearance in Judges 18:7 warns believers of every age to steward resources wisely, depend on divine protection, and proclaim the greater riches found in Christ alone.

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