The presence of a gate strongly suggests that the settlement where Micah’s house was something like a compound. Since there is no enemy in sight, the reason the six hundred Danites, armed for battle, stand here is for the purpose of blackmail. They are leaving the priest few, if any, options but to go along with whatever they demand.1
16 Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate.