Judges 17:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

¹ And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

² And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.

³ And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

⁴ Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

⁵ And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

⁷ And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

⁸ And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

⁹ And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

¹⁰ And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

¹¹ And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

¹² And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

¹³ Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Judges 17:1-13 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ And there was a man ^H376 of mount ^H2022 Ephraim, ^H669 whose name ^H8034 was Micah. ^H4321

² And he said ^H559 unto his mother, ^H517 The eleven hundred ^H505 ^H3967 shekels of silver ^H3701 that were taken ^H3947 from thee, about which thou cursedst, ^H422 and spakest ^H559 of also in mine ears, ^H241 behold, the silver ^H3701 is with me; I took ^H3947 it. And his mother ^H517 said, ^H559 Blessed ^H1288 be thou of the LORD, ^H3068 my son. ^H1121

³ And when he had restored ^H7725 the eleven hundred ^H505 ^H3967 shekels of silver ^H3701 to his mother, ^H517 his mother ^H517 said, ^H559 I had wholly ^H6942 dedicated ^H6942 the silver ^H3701 unto the LORD ^H3068 from my hand ^H3027 for my son, ^H1121 to make ^H6213 a graven image ^H6459 and a molten image: ^H4541 now therefore I will restore ^H7725 it unto thee.

⁴ Yet he restored ^H7725 the money ^H3701 unto his mother; ^H517 and his mother ^H517 took ^H3947 two hundred ^H3967 shekels of silver, ^H3701 and gave ^H5414 them to the founder, ^H6884 who made ^H6213 thereof a graven image ^H6459 and a molten image: ^H4541 and they were in the house ^H1004 of Micah. ^H4321

⁵ And the man ^H376 Micah ^H4318 had an house ^H1004 of gods, ^H430 and made ^H6213 an ephod, ^H646 and teraphim, ^H8655 and consecrated ^H4390 ^H3027 one ^H259 of his sons, ^H1121 who became his priest. ^H3548

⁶ In those days ^H3117 there was no king ^H4428 in Israel, ^H3478 but every man ^H376 did ^H6213 that which was right ^H3477 in his own eyes. ^H5869

⁷ And there was a young man ^H5288 out of Bethlehemjudah ^H1035 ^H3063 of the family ^H4940 of Judah, ^H3063 who was a Levite, ^H3881 and he sojourned ^H1481 there.

⁸ And the man ^H376 departed ^H3212 out of the city ^H5892 from Bethlehemjudah ^H1035 ^H3063 to sojourn ^H1481 where he could find ^H4672 a place: and he came ^H935 to mount ^H2022 Ephraim ^H669 to the house ^H1004 of Micah, ^H4318 as he journeyed. ^H6213 ^H1870

⁹ And Micah ^H4318 said ^H559 unto him, Whence ^H370 comest ^H935 thou? And he said ^H559 unto him, I am a Levite ^H3881 of Bethlehemjudah, ^H1035 ^H3063 and I go ^H1980 to sojourn ^H1481 where I may find ^H4672 a place.

¹⁰ And Micah ^H4318 said ^H559 unto him, Dwell ^H3427 with me, and be unto me a father ^H1 and a priest, ^H3548 and I will give ^H5414 thee ten ^H6235 shekels of silver ^H3701 by the year, ^H3117 and a suit ^H6187 of apparel, ^H899 and thy victuals. ^H4241 So the Levite ^H3881 went in. ^H3212

¹¹ And the Levite ^H3881 was content ^H2974 to dwell ^H3427 with the man; ^H376 and the young man ^H5288 was unto him as one ^H259 of his sons. ^H1121

¹² And Micah ^H4318 consecrated ^H4390 ^H3027 the Levite; ^H3881 and the young man ^H5288 became his priest, ^H3548 and was in the house ^H1004 of Micah. ^H4318

¹³ Then said ^H559 Micah, ^H4318 Now know ^H3045 I that the LORD ^H3068 will do me good, ^H3190 seeing I have a Levite ^H3881 to my priest. ^H3548

Judges 17:1-13 American Standard (ASV)

¹ And there was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

² And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred `pieces' of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou didst utter a curse, and didst also speak it in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son of Jehovah.

³ And he restored the eleven hundred `pieces' of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I verily dedicate the silver unto Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

⁴ And when he restored the money unto his mother, his mother took two hundred `pieces' of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Micah.

⁵ And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

⁷ And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.

⁸ And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find `a place', and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

⁹ And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find `a place'.

¹⁰ And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten `pieces' of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

¹¹ And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

¹² And Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

¹³ Then said Micah, Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Judges 17:1-13 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

¹ And there is a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name `is' Micah,

² and he saith to his mother, `The eleven hundred silverlings which have been taken of thine, and `of which' thou hast sworn, and also spoken in mine ears; lo, the silver `is' with me, I have taken it;' and his mother saith, `Blessed `is' my son of Jehovah.'

³ And he giveth back the eleven hundred silverlings to his mother, and his mother saith, `I had certainly sanctified the silver to Jehovah, from my hand, for my son, to make a graven image, and a molten image; and now, I give it back to thee.'

⁴ And he giveth back the money to his mother, and his mother taketh two hundred silverlings, and giveth them to a refiner, and he maketh them a graven image, and a molten image, and it is in the house of Micah.

⁵ As to the man Micah, he hath a house of gods, and he maketh an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrateth the hand of one of his sons, and he is to him for a priest;

⁶ in those days there is no king in Israel, each that which is right in his own eyes doth.

⁷ And there is a young man of Beth-Lehem-Judah, of the family of Judah, and he `is' a Levite, and he `is' a sojourner there.

⁸ And the man goeth out of the city, out of Beth-Lehem-Judah, to sojourn where he doth find, and cometh to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, to work his way.

⁹ And Micah saith to him, `Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him, `A Levite `am' I, of Beth-Lehem-Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I do find.'

¹⁰ And Micah saith to him, `Dwell with me, and be to me for a father and for a priest, and I give to thee ten silverlings for the days, and a suit of garments, and thy sustenance;' and the Levite goeth `in'.

¹¹ And the Levite is willing to dwell with the man, and the young man is to him as one of his sons.

¹² And Micah consecrateth the hand of the Levite, and the young man is to him for a priest, and he is in the house of Micah,

¹³ and Micah saith, `Now I have known that Jehovah doth good to me, for the Levite hath been to me for a priest.'

Judges 17:1-13 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

¹ There was a man of the hill country of E'phraim, whose name was Micah.

² And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by the LORD."

³ And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, "I consecrate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore I will restore it to you."

⁴ So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a graven image and a molten image; and it was in the house of Micah.

⁵ And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and installed one of his sons, who became his priest.

⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

⁷ Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.

⁸ And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah, to live where he could find a place; and as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of E'phraim to the house of Micah.

⁹ And Micah said to him, "From where do you come?" And he said to him, "I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place."

¹⁰ And Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, and a suit of apparel, and your living."

¹¹ And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man became to him like one of his sons.

¹² And Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

¹³ Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest."

Judges 17:1-13 World English Bible (WEB)

¹ There was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

² He said to his mother, The eleven hundred [pieces] of silver that were taken from you, about which you did utter a curse, and did also speak it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. His mother said, Blessed be my son of Yahweh.

³ He restored the eleven hundred [pieces] of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I most assuredly dedicate the silver to Yahweh from my hand for my son, to make an engraved image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it to you.

⁴ When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred [pieces] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made of it an engraved image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Micah.

⁵ The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

⁷ There was a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.

⁸ The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to sojourn where he could find [a place], and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he traveled.

⁹ Micah said to him, Whence come you? He said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].

¹⁰ Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten [pieces] of silver by the year, and a suit of clothing, and your food. So the Levite went in.

¹¹ The Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.

¹² Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

¹³ Then said Micah, Now know I that Yahweh will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Judges 17:1-13 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

¹ Now there was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim named Micah.

² And he said to his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver which were taken from you, about which you took an oath and said in my hearing, I have given this silver to the Lord from my hand for myself, to make a pictured image and a metal image: see, I have the silver, for I took it: so now I will give it back to you. And his mother said, May the blessing of the Lord be on my son.

³ And he gave back the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, and his mother said, I have made the silver holy to the Lord from me for my son, to make a pictured image and a metal image.

⁴ So he gave the silver back to his mother. Then his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a metal-worker who made a pictured image and a metal image from them: and it was in the house of Micah.

⁵ And the man Micah had a house of gods; and he made an ephod and family gods and put one of his sons in the position of priest.

⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did as seemed right to him.

⁷ Now there was a young man living in Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah and a Levite, who was not a townsman of the place.

⁸ And he went away from the town of Beth-lehem-judah, looking for somewhere to make his living-place; and on his journey he came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah.

⁹ And Micah said to him, Where do you come from? And he said to him, I am a Levite from Beth-lehem-judah, and I am looking for a living-place.

¹⁰ Then Micah said to him, Make your living-place with me, and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten shekels of silver a year and your clothing and food.

¹¹ And the Levite said he would make his living-place with the man, and he became to him as one of his sons.

¹² And Micah gave the position to the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

¹³ Then Micah said, Now I am certain that the Lord will do me good, seeing that the Levite has become my priest.

Commentary on Judges 17 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 17

All agree that what is related in this and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book was not done, as the narrative occurs, after Samson, but long before, even soon after the death of Joshua, in the days of Phinehas the son of Eleazar, ch. 20:28. But it is cast here into the latter part of the book that it might not interrupt the history of the Judges. That it might appear how happy the nation was in the judges it is here shown how unhappy they were when there was none.

I. Then idolatry began in the family of Micah, ch. 17.
II. Then it spread itself into the tribe of Dan, ch. 18.
III. Then villany was committed in Gibeah of Benjamin, ch. 19.
IV. Then that whole tribe was destroyed for countenancing it, ch. 20.
V. Then strange expedients were adopted to keep up that tribe, ch. 21. Therefore blessed be God for the government we are under! In this chapter we are told how Micah an Ephraimite furnished himself,
- 1. With an image for his god (v. 1-6).
- 2. With a Levite, such a one as he was, for his priest (v. 7-13).

Jdg 17:1-6

Here we have,

I. Micah and his mother quarrelling.
- 1. The son robs the mother. The old woman had hoarded, with long scraping and saving, a great sum of money, 1100 pieces of silver. It is likely she intended, when she died, to leave it to her son: in the mean time it did her good to look upon it, and to count it over. The young man had a family of children grown up, for he had one of age to be a priest, v. 5. He knows where to find his mother's cash, thinks he has more need of it than she has, cannot stay till she dies, and so takes it away privately for his own use. Though it is a fault in parents to withhold from their children that which is meet, and lead them into temptation to wish them in their graves, yet even this will by no means excuse the wickedness of those children that steal from their parents, and think all their own that they can get from them, though by the most indirect methods.
- 2. The mother curses the son, or whoever had taken her money. It should seem she suspected her son; for, when she cursed, she spoke in his cars so loud, and with so much passion and vehemence, as made both his ears to tingle. See what mischief the love of money makes, how it destroys the duty and comfort of every relation. It was the love of money that made Micah so undutiful to his mother as to rob her, and made her so unkind and void of natural affection to her son as to curse him if he had it and concealed it. Outward losses drive good people to their prayers, but bad people to their curses. This woman's silver was her god before it was made thither into a graven or a molten image, else the loss of it would not have put her into such a passion as caused her quite to forget and break through all the laws of decency and piety. It is a very foolish thing for those that are provoked to throw their curses about as a madman that casteth fire-brands, arrows, and death, since they know not but they may light upon those that are most dear to them.
II. Micah and his mother reconciled.
- 1. The son was so terrified with his mother's curses that he restored the money. Though he had so little grace as to take it, he had so much left as not to dare to keep it when his mother had sent a curse after it. He cannot believe his mother's money will do him any good without his mother's blessing, nor dares he deny the theft when he is charged with it, nor retain the money when it is demanded by the right owner. It is best not to do evil, but it is next best, when it is done, to undo it again by repentance, confession, and restitution. Let children be afraid of having the prayers of their parents against them; for, though the curse causeless shall not come, yet that which is justly deserved may be justly feared, even though it was passionately and indecently uttered.
- 2. The mother was so pleased with her son's repentance that she recalled her curses, and turned them into prayers for her son's welfare: Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son. When those that have been guilty of a fault appear to be free and ingenuous in owning it they ought to be commended for their repentance, rather than still be condemned and upbraided for their fault.
III. Micah and his mother agreeing to turn their money into a god, and set up idolatry in their family; and this seems to have been the first instance of the revolt of any Israelite from God and his instituted worship after the death of Joshua and the elders that out-lived him, and is therefore thus particularly related. And though this was only the worship of the true God by an image, against the second commandment, yet this opened the door to the worship of other gods, Baalim and the groves, against the first and great commandment. Observe,
- 1. The mother's contrivance of this matter. When the silver was restored she pretended she had dedicated it to the Lord (v. 3), either before it was stolen, and then she would have this thought to be the reason why she was so much grieved at the loss of it and imprecated evil on him that had taken it, because it was a dedicated and therefore an accursed thing, or after it was stolen she had made a vow that, if she could retrieve it, she would dedicate it to God, and then she would have the providence that had so far favoured her as to bring it back to her hands to be an owning of her vow. "Come,' said she to her son, "the money is mine, but thou hast a mind to it; let it be neither mine nor thine, but let us both agree to make it into an image for a religious use.' Had she put it to a use that was indeed for the service and honour of God, this would have been a good way of accommodating the matter between them; but, as it was, the project was wicked. Probably this old woman was one of those that came out of Egypt, and would have such images made as she had seen there; now that she began to dote she called to remembrance the follies of her youth, and perhaps told her son that this way of worshipping God by images was, to her knowledge, the old religion.
- 2. The son's compliance with her. It should seem, when she first proposed the thing he stumbled at it, knowing what the second commandment was; for, when she said (v. 3) she designed it for her son to make an image of, yet he restored it to his mother (being loth to have a hand in making the image), and she gave it to the founder and had the thing done, blaming him perhaps for scrupling at it, v. 4. But, when the images were made, Micah, by his mother's persuasion, was not only well reconciled to them, but greatly pleased and in love with them; so strangely bewitching was idolatry, and so much supported by traditions received from their parents, 1 Pt. 1:18; Jer. 44:17. But observe how the old woman's covetousness prevailed, in part, above her superstition. She had wholly dedicated the silver to make the graven and molten images (v. 3), all the 1100 pieces; but, when it came to be done, she made less than a fifth part serve, even 200 shekels, v. 4. She thought that enough, and indeed it was too much to give for an image that is a teacher of lies. Had it been devoted truly to the honour of God, he would not thus have been put off with part of the price, but would have signified his resentment of the affront, as he did in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. Now observe,
  - (1.) What was the corruption here introduced, v. 5. The man Micah had a house of gods, a house of God, so the Septuagint, for so he thought it, as good as that at Shiloh, and better, because his own, of his own inventing and at his own disposal; for people love to have their religion under their girdle, to manage it as they please. A house of error, so the Chaldee, for really it was so, a deviation from the way of truth and an inlet to all deceit. Idolatry is a great cheat, and one of the worst of errors. That which he aimed at in the progress of his idolatry, whether he designed it at first or no, was to mimic and rival both God's oracles and his ordinances.
    - [1.] His oracles; for he made teraphim, little images which he might advise with as there was occasion, and receive informations, directions, and predictions from. What the urim and thummim were to the prince and people these teraphim should be to his family; yet he could not think that the true God would own them, or give answers by them, and therefore depended upon such demons as the heathen worshipped to inspire them and make them serviceable to him. Thus, while the honour of Jehovah was pretended (v. 3), yet, his institution being relinquished, these Israelites unavoidably lapsed into downright idolatry and demon-worship.
    - [2.] His ordinances. Some room or apartment in the house of Micah was appointed for the temple or house of God; an ephod, or holy garment, was provided for his priest to officiate in, in imitation of those used at the tabernacle of God, and one of his sons he consecrated, probably the eldest, to be his priest. And, when he had set up a graven or molten image to represent the object of his worship, no marvel if a priest of his own getting and his own making served to be the manager of it. Here is no mention of any altar, sacrifice, or incense, in honour of these silver gods, but, having a priest, it is probable he had all these, unless we suppose that, at first, his gods were intended only to be advised with, not to be adored, like Laban's teraphim; but the beginning of idolatry, as of other sins, is like the letting forth of water: break the dam, and you bring a deluge. Here idolatry began, and it spread like a fretting leprosy. Dr. Lightfoot would have us observe that as 1100 pieces of silver were here devoted to the making of an idol, which ruined religion, especially in the tribe of Dan (as we shall presently find), which was Samson's tribe, so 1100 pieces of silver were given by each Philistine lord for the ruin of Samson.
  - (2.) What was the cause of this corruption (v. 6): There was no king in Israel, no judge or sovereign prince to take cognizance of the setting up of these images (which, doubtless, the country about soon resorted to), and to give orders for the destroying of them, none to convince Micah of his error and to restrain and punish him, to take this disease in time, by which the spreading of the infection might have been happily prevented. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes, and then they soon did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. When they were without a king to keep good order among them, God's house was forsaken, his priests were neglected, and all went to ruin among them. See what a mercy government is, and what reason there is that not only prayers and intercessions, but giving of thanks, should be made for kings and all in authority, 1 Tim. 2:1, 2. Nothing contributes more, under God, to the support of religion in the world, than the due administration of those two great ordinances, magistracy and ministry.

Jdg 17:7-13

We have here an account of Micah's furnishing himself with a Levite for his chaplain, either thinking his son, because the heir of his estate, too good to officiate, or rather, because not of God's tribe, not good enough. Observe,

I. What brought this Levite to Micah. By his mother's side he was of the family of Judah, and lived at Bethlehem among his mother's relations (for that was not a Levites' city), or, upon some other account, as a stranger or inmate, sojourned there, v. 7. Thence he went to sojourn where he could find a place, and in his travels came to the house of Micah in Mount Ephraim, v. 8. Now,
- 1. Some think it was his unhappiness that he was under a necessity of removing, either because he was persecuted and abused, or rather neglected and starved, at Bethlehem. God had made plentiful provision for the Levites, but the people withheld their dues, and did not help them into the possession of the cities assigned to them; so that they were reduced to straits, and no care was taken for their relief. Israel's forsaking God began with forsaking the Levites, which therefore they are warned against, Deu. 12:19. It is a sign religion is going to decay when good ministers are neglected and at a loss for a livelihood. But,
- 2. It seems rather to have been his fault and folly, that he loved to wander, threw himself out where he was, and forfeited the respect of his friends, and, having a roving head, would go to seek his fortune, as we say. We cannot conceive that things had yet come to such a pass among them that a Levite should be poor, unless it was his own fault. As those are fit to be pitied that would fix but may not, so those are fit to be punished that might fix but will not. Unsettledness being, one would think, a constant uneasiness, it is strange that any Israelite, especially any Levite, should affect it.
II. What bargain Micah made with him. Had he not been well enough content with his son for his priest, he would have gone or sent abroad to enquire out a Levite, but now he only takes hold of one that drops into his hands, which showed that he had no great zeal in the matter. It is probable that this rambling Levite had heard, in the country, of Micah's house of gods, his graven and molten image, which, if he had had any thing of the spirit of a Levite in him, would have brought him thither to reprove Micah for his idolatry, to tell how directly contrary it was to the law of God, and how it would bring the judgments of God upon him; but instead of this, like a base and degenerate branch of that sacred tribe, thither he goes to offer his service, with, Have you any work for a Levite? for I am out of business, and go to sojourn where I may find a place; all he aimed at was to get bread, not to do good, v. 9. Micah courts him into his family (v. 10), and promises him,
- 1. Good preferment: Be unto me a father and a priest. Though a young man, and taken up at the door, yet, if he take him for a priest, he will respect him as a father, so far is he from setting him among his servants. He asks not for his credentials, takes no time to enquire how he behaved in the place of his last settlement, considers not whether, though he was a Levite, yet he might not be of such a bad character as to be a plague and scandal to his family, but thinks, though he should be ever so great a rake, he might serve for a priest to a graven image, like Jeroboam's priest of the lowest of the people, 1 Ki. 12:31. No marvel if those who can make any thing serve for a god can also make any thing serve for a priest.
- 2. A tolerable maintenance. He will allow him meat, and drink, and clothes, a double suit, so the word is in the margin, a better and a worse, one for every day's wear and one for holy days, and ten shekels, about twenty-five shillings, a year for spending money-a poor salary in comparison of what God provided for the Levites that behaved well; but those that forsake God's service will never better themselves, nor find a better master. The ministry is the best calling but the worst trade in the world.
III. The Levite's settlement with him (v. 11): He was content to dwell with the man; though his work was superstitious and his wages were scandalous, he objected against neither, but thought himself happy that he had lighted on so good a house. Micah, thinking himself holier than any of his neighbours, presumed to consecrate this Levite, v. 12. As if his building, furnishing, and endowing this chapel authorized him, not only to appoint the person that should officiate there, but to confer those orders upon him which he had no right to give nor the other to receive. And now he shows him respect as a father and tenderness as a son, and is willing thus to make up the deficiency of the coin he gave him.
IV. Micah's satisfaction in this (v. 13): Now know I that the Lord will do me good (that is, he hoped that his new establishment would gain reputation among his neighbours, which would turn to his advantage, for he would share in the profit of his altar; or, rather, he hoped that God would countenance and bless him in all he put his hand unto) because I have a Levite to be my priest.
- 1. He thought it was a sign of God's favour to him and his images that he had so opportunely sent a Levite to his door. Thus those who please themselves with their own delusions, if Providence unexpectedly bring any thing to their hands that furthers them in their evil way, are too apt to infer thence that God is pleased with them.
- 2. He thought now that the error of his priesthood was amended all was well, though he still retained his graven and molten image. Note, Many deceive themselves into a good opinion of their state by a partial reformation. They think they are as good as they should be, because, in some one particular instance, they are not so bad as they have been, as if the correcting of one fault would atone for their persisting in all the rest.
- 3. He thought the making of a Levite into a priest was a very meritorious act, which really was a presumptuous usurpation, and every provoking to God. Men's pride, and ignorance, and self-flattery, will undertake, not only to justify, but magnify and sanctify, the most daring impieties and invasions upon the divine prerogatives. With much reason might Micah have said, "Now may I fear that God will curse me, because I have debauched one of his own tribe, and drawn him into the worship of a graven image;' yet for this he hopes God will do him good.
- 4. He thought that having a Levite in the house with him would of course entitle him to the divine favour. Carnal hearts are apt to build too much upon their external privileges, and to conclude that God will certainly do them good because they are born of godly parents, dwell in praying families, are linked in society with those that are very good, and sit under a lively ministry; whereas all this is but like having a Levite to be their priest, which amounts to no security at all that God will do them good, unless they be good themselves, and make a good use of these advantages.

Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Judges » Chapter 17