The Idolatry of Micah
Judges 17, verse 1. Now there was a man from Mount Ephraim whose name was Micah. Judges 17, verse 2. And he said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver you took for yourself, and about which you cursed me and spoke it in my ears, behold the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son of the Lord.” Judges 17, verse 3. And he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I consecrated the silver to the Lord out of my hand, for my son to make a carved and a molten image; and now I will restore it to you.” Judges 17, verse 4. Micah returned the silver to his mother, and his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, who made it into a carved and molten image. It was in Micah's house. Judges 17, verse 5. And to him, the house of Micah was a house of God, and he made an ephod and idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, and to him he became his priest. Judges 17, verse 6. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17, verse 7. There was a young man from Bethlehem of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, sojourning there. Judges 17, verse 8. And the man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to journey to wherever he could find a place. As he made his way, he came as far as Mount Ephraim and to the house of Micah. Judges 17, verse 9. And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” So he said to him, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am journeying to wherever I might find a place.” Judges 17, verse 10. Micah said to him, “Dwell with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a day, a change of clothes, and all your living needs.” So the Levite entered. Judges 17, verse 11. He began to dwell with the man, and the young man became like one of his sons to him. Judges 17, verse 12. So Micah consecrated the Levite, and to him he became his priest, and he took his place in the house of Micah. Judges 17, verse 13. Then Micah said, “Now I know the Lord will be good to me, since a Levite has become my priest!”