Judges 17

Micah’s Idolatry

1NowH1961 a manH376 namedH8034 MicahH4321 from the hill countryH2022 of EphraimH669 2saidH559 to his motherH517, “The elevenH505 hundredH3967 shekels of silverH37011 thatH834 were takenH3947 from you andH1571 about which I heardH241 youH859 utterH559 a curseH422—I haveH2009 the silver hereH3701 with meH854; IH589 took itH3947.”

Then his motherH517 saidH559, “Blessed beH1288 my sonH1121 by the LORDH3068!”

3And when he had returnedH7725H853 the elevenH505 hundredH3967 shekels of silverH3701 to his motherH517, she saidH559, “I wholly dedicateH6942 the silverH3701 to the LORDH3068H3027 for my son’s benefitH1121, to makeH6213 a graven imageH6459 and a molten idolH4541. Therefore I will nowH6258 return itH7725 to you.”

4So he returnedH7725 the silverH3701 to his motherH517, and sheH517 tookH3947 two hundredH3967 shekels of silverH37012 and gave themH5414 to a silversmithH6884, who made themH6213 into a graven imageH6459 and a molten idolH4541. And they were placedH1961 in the houseH1004 of MicahH4321.

5Now this manH376 MicahH4318 had a shrineH1004H430, and he madeH6213 an ephodH646 and some household idolsH8655, and ordainedH43903 oneH259 of his sonsH1121 as his priestH3548. 6In thoseH1992 daysH3117 there was noH369 kingH4428 in IsraelH3478; everyoneH376 didH6213 what was rightH3477 in his own eyesH5869.

7And there wasH1961 a youngH5288 LeviteH3881 from BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063 whoH1931 had been residingH1481H8033 within the clanH4940 of JudahH3063. 8This manH376 leftH1980 the cityH5892 of BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063 to settleH1481 whereH834 he could findH4672 a place. And as he traveledH6213H1870, he cameH935 toH5704 Micah’sH4318 houseH1004 in the hill countryH2022 of EphraimH669.

9“WhereH370 are you fromH935?” MicahH4318 askedH559 him.

“IH595 am a LeviteH3881 from BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063,” he repliedH559H413, “and IH595 am on my wayH1980 to settleH1481 whereverH834 I can find a placeH4672.”

10“StayH3427 with meH5978,” MicahH4318 saidH559 to him, “and beH1961 my fatherH1 and priestH3548, and IH595 will giveH5414 you tenH6235 shekels of silverH37014 per yearH3117, a suitH6187 of clothesH899, and your provisionsH4241.”

So the LeviteH3881 went inH1980 11and agreedH2974H3881 to stayH3427 withH854 him, and the young manH5288 becameH1961 like aH259 sonH1121 to Micah.

12MicahH4318 ordainedH4390H3027 the LeviteH3881, and the young manH5288 becameH1961 his priestH3548 and livedH1961 inH4318 his houseH1004. 13Then MicahH4318 saidH559, “NowH6258 I knowH3045 thatH3588 the LORDH3068 will be goodH3190 to me, becauseH3588 a LeviteH3881 has becomeH1961 my priestH3548.”