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The Book of Judges

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- Chapter 17 -

1
In that time, there was a certain man, from mount Ephraim, named Micah.
2
And he said to his mother, “The one thousand one hundred silver coins, which you had separated for yourself, and about which you had sworn in my hearing, behold, I have them, and they are with me.” And she answered him, “My son has been blessed by the Lord.”
3
Therefore, he restored them to his mother. And she said to him: “I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, so that my son would receive it from my hand, and would make a molten idol and a graven image. And now I deliver it to you.”
4
And when he restored these to his mother, she took two hundred of the silver coins, and she gave them to the silversmith, so that he might make from them a molten idol and a graven image. And it was in the house of Micah.
5
And he also separated in it a little shrine for the god. And he made an ephod and theraphim, that is, a priestly garment and idols. And he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.(a)
6
In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.
7
Also, there was another young man, from Bethlehem of Judah, one of his relatives. And he himself was a Levite, and he was living there.
8
Then, departing from the city of Bethlehem, he wished to sojourn wherever he would find it beneficial to himself. And when he had arrived at mount Ephraim, while making the journey, he also turned aside for a little while to the house of Micah.
9
And he was asked by him where he came from. And he responded: “I am a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah. And I am traveling so that I may live where I am able, if I perceive it to be useful to me.”
10
And Micah said: “Stay with me. And you shall be to me like a parent and a priest. And I will give to you, each year, ten silver coins, and a double-layered garment, and whatever provisions are necessary.”
11
He agreed, and he stayed with the man. And he was to him like one of his sons.
12
And Micah filled his hand, and he had the young man with him as his priest,
13
saying: “Now I know that God will be good to me, since I have a priest from the stock of the Levites.”

Footnotes

(a)17:5 Filled the hand:That is, appointed and consecrated him to the priestly office.(Challoner)
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 uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears—behold, the silver is with me. I took it.” His mother said, “May the LORD bless my son!”
3
He restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, then his mother said, “I most certainly dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved 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 a silversmith, who made a carved image and a molten image out of it. It was in the house of Micah.
5
The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim,(a) and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
6
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone 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 lived there.
8
The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to live 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, “Where did you come from?” He said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem Judah, and I am looking for a place to live.”
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 per year, 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 Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will do good to me, since I have a Levite as my priest.”

Footnotes

(a)17:5 teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.
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