Tyndale Open Study NotesJudges 17

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.

• Micah is a shortened name meaning “Who is like the Lord?” It emphasizes the difference between the Lord and a carved image or idol.

• The hill country of Ephraim was a natural gathering place in central Israel (Judges 17:7–8; 18:2, 13; 19:1, 16).

• 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.

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).

• ephod: See study note on Judges 8:27.

• household idols: Compare Genesis 31:19–32; 2 Kings 23:24; Zechariah 10:2. The Bible criticizes the powerlessness of these personal gods. Micah making his son his personal priest was very unusual: The father was supposed to lead the family's religious activities (Deuteronomy 6:7; Job 1:5), only Aaron's descendants could be priests (Exodus 28:1–29:37; 30:30–33; 40:12–15), and priests served all of Israel, not just one family.

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.

In Micah’s view, hiring a priest made the shrine seem more legitimate. However, he believed the Lord would bless him due to superstition, not obedience. Micah’s disregard for God’s covenant would lead to a curse that no unemployed Levite could prevent. Micah was not the last Israelite to seek a priest or Levite to legitimize improper religious practices (compare 1 Kings 12:28–31; 2 Kings 16:10–18).