Judges 17

Micah’s Idolatry

1Now there was a manH376 of the hillH2022 countryH2022 of EphraimH669 whose nameH8034 was MicahH4321. 2He saidH559 to his motherH517, “The elevenH505H3967 hundredH3967 pieces of silverH3701 whichH834 were takenH3947 from you, about which you utteredH422 a curseH422 1in my hearingH241, beholdH2009, the silverH3701 is with me; I tookH3947 it.” And his motherH517 saidH559, “BlessedH1288 be my sonH1121 by the LordH3068.” 3He then returnedH7725 the elevenH505H3967 hundredH3967 pieces of silverH3701 to his motherH517, and his motherH517 saidH559, “I whollyH6942 dedicateH6942 the silverH3701 from my handH3027 to the LordH3068 for my sonH1121 2to makeH6213 a gravenH6459 imageH6459 and a moltenH4541 imageH4541; nowH6258 therefore, I will returnH7725 3them to you.” 4So when he returnedH7725 the silverH3701 to his motherH517, his motherH517 tookH3947 two hundredH3967 pieces of silverH3701 and gaveH5414 them to the silversmithH6884 who madeH6213 4them into a gravenH6459 imageH6459 and a moltenH4541 imageH4541, and 5they were in the houseH1004 of MicahH4321. 5And the manH376 MicahH4318 had a 67shrineH1004H430 and he madeH6213 an 8ephodH646 and 910householdH8655 idolsH8655 and 11consecratedH4390H3027 oneH259 of his sonsH1121, 12that he might becomeH1961 his priestH3548. 6In thoseH1992 daysH3117 13thereH369 was noH369 kingH4428 in IsraelH3478; 14everyH376 manH376 didH6213 whatH3477 was rightH3477 in his own eyesH5869.

7Now there was a youngH5288 manH5288 from 15BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063, of the familyH4940 of JudahH3063, whoH1931 was a LeviteH3881; and he was 16stayingH1481 thereH8033. 8Then the manH376 departedH1980 from the cityH5892, from BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063, to 17stayH1481 whereverH834 he might findH4672 a place; and as he madeH6213 his journeyH1870, he cameH935 to the 18hillH2022 countryH2022 of EphraimH669 to the houseH1004 of MicahH4318. 9MicahH4318 saidH559 to him, “WhereH370 do you comeH935 from?” And he saidH559 to him, “I am a LeviteH3881 from BethlehemH1035 in JudahH3063, and I am goingH1980 to 19stayH1481 whereverH834 I may findH4672 a place.” 10MicahH4318 then saidH559 to him, “DwellH3427 with me and be 20a fatherH1 and a priestH3548 to me, and I will giveH5414 you tenH6235 pieces of silverH3701 a yearH3117, a suitH6187 of clothesH899, and your maintenanceH4241.” So the LeviteH3881 wentH1980 in. 11The LeviteH3881 agreedH2974 to liveH3427 with the manH376, and the youngH5288 manH5288 becameH1961 to him like oneH259 of his sonsH1121. 12So MicahH4318 21consecratedH4390H3027 the LeviteH3881, and the youngH5288 manH5288 22becameH1961 his priestH3548 and 23livedH1961 in the houseH1004 of MicahH4318. 13Then MicahH4318 saidH559, “NowH6258 I knowH3045 that the LordH3068 will prosperH3190 me, seeingH3588 I haveH1961 a LeviteH3881 as priestH3548.”