Micah’s Idolatry
These two epilogues (Judges 17–18 and 19–21) show...
These two epilogues (Judges 17–18 and 19–21) show that inspired but unstructured leadership cannot last. As society moved toward chaos and civil war, the phrase, In those days there was no king in Israel appears four times. The phrase, everyone did what was right in his own eyes is added twice (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The era of inspired leadership declined and ended in disorder. Something important was missing.
1Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim
Micah’s mother was indulgent and worshipped idols, yet...
Micah’s mother was indulgent and worshipped idols, yet she used the Lord’s name in both cursing and blessing.
I heard you place a curse: People believed words in curses and blessings had power, especially if the speaker had authority (compare Genesis 27; Isaiah 55:11).
eleven hundred shekels: This large amount was also given to Delilah (Judges 16:5). It was likely Micah’s mother’s life savings or dowry.
Blessed be my son by the LORD!: Micah’s mother hoped the blessing would cancel out her earlier curse.
Micah’s mother was indulgent and worshipped idols, yet she used the Lord’s name in both cursing and blessing.
I heard you place a curse: People believed words in curses and blessings had power, especially if the speaker had authority (compare Genesis 27; Isaiah 55:11).
eleven hundred shekels: This large amount was also given to Delilah (Judges 16:5). It was likely Micah’s mother’s life savings or dowry.
Blessed be my son by the LORD!: Micah’s mother hoped the blessing would cancel out her earlier curse.
2said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver† that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have the silver here with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!”
3And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.”
We do not know what Micah’s mother did...
We do not know what Micah’s mother did with the other 900 shekels. Perhaps she used them to pay for the shrine (literally house of gods).
4So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver† and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a graven image and a molten idol. And they were placed in the house of Micah.
5Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained† one of his sons as his priest. 6In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
This Levite does not fit typical biblical categories....
This Levite does not fit typical biblical categories. Some Levites were priests, while others served in the temple (compare Numbers 3–4). Levites lived throughout Israel (Genesis 49:5–7; Joshua 21). This young man, likely a descendant of Gershom (Judges 18:30; see Exodus 2:21–22), lived in Judah but not in a Levitical town. He was searching for a new place to live.
7And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah. 8This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.
9“Where are you from?” Micah asked him. “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he replied, “and I am on my way to settle wherever I can find a place.”
10“Stay with me,” Micah said to him, “and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silver† per year, a suit of clothes, and your provisions.”
So the Levite went in 11and agreed to stay with him, and the young man became like a son to Micah.
12Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. 13Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”