Micah and the Levite
17 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 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.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.” And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.” And Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.” And the Levite went in. And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”
(ESV)
Judges 17 Commentary
In Judges 17, a man from the hill country of Ephraim named Micah steals 1,100 pieces of silver from his mother. Later, he returns it and admits that he stole it. His mother blesses him and consecrates the silver to the Lord to make a carved image and a silver idol. Micah then sets up a shrine, creates household idols, and appoints his son as a priest. A Levite from Bethlehem arrives seeking a place to stay and Micah offers him a position as a priest, providing silver, clothing, and provisions. The Levite agrees to become Micah’s priest which leads Micah to believe that the Lord will bless him.
There Was No King In Israel
In Judges 17–21, the cycle of Israel’s history is illustrated, where the nation experiences a repeated pattern of blessing, departure from God, sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. There is a recognizable pattern in the downfall and it seems to come in three distinct stages: turning away from God, degrading ethical standards, and the breakdown in governance. This deterioration begins in the temple (or church today), which then affects the home, and ultimately results in chaos within the state and society (I’m looking at you America).
If you have been following along in Judges, you know that Israel’s decline has been building. Judges 2-16 are the meat and potatoes of this book, describing the foreign threats to Israel, the backslide into sin, and God’s calling of particular individuals as judges. The last several chapters are considered appendixes, though the timeline of events is confusing. To fully make sense of them, we must understand when they occurred.
For whatever reason, the author decided to include them later in the book when they are actually dated earlier in the period of Judges. We know this because certain biblical characters (i.e. Phinehas) are still ministering in roles described earlier in Numbers and Joshua. In every chapter from here on out (except Judges 20), we read the phrase, “…there was no king in Israel.”
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.
Judges 17:6 CSB
When reading between the lines, we can see the overwhelming message the writer is communicating. It is inferred to the reader that a king would have been ideal to keep Israel away from sin. We can read into Samuel and beyond to know this isn’t true, but it still highlights the cold hard reality; Israel (and humanity) couldn’t stop rebelling against God.
Micah’s Worship Center
Enter, Micah. He decides to steal some money from his mother. How much money you ask? Well, considering that 10 shekels was a reasonable annual wage for a laborer (Jdg 17:10), this was most likely the equivalent of millions of dollars today. Fearing his mother’s curse on the thief, he returns the money and receives no consequence for his actions. Instead, he is blessed! Even more confusing is the fact that his mother says the money was set aside for the Lord but then gives some of it back to Micah so he can carve up some false idols.
Micah then decides to set up his own private worship center which was a perversion of the worship practices that were set by God previously. Not only that, but he recruits a Levite priest to legitimize his sanctuary. In Joshua 21, when land was distributed, the Levites were not given a share, but rather, were given 48 cities scattered around the tribes with the responsibility of ministering and teaching. The Levites’ role was to assist in the spiritual leadership of Israel, including performing religious duties and guiding the people in the law.
This young Levite is wandering around (instead of living in one of the 48 cities) which indicates that the nation is not supporting him as prescribed by the law of God. He accepts this position as priest over Micah’s sanctuary, compromising his God-given ministry. I wonder what ever happened to Micah’s son who was made priest in verse 5?
“It must have bothered Micah a little that he had made his son a priest. So, when this unemployed itinerant preacher came by, Micah hired him. This Levite from Beth–lehem–judah became his private family priest. Here is a priest who is like a hired preacher who becomes a messenger boy of a church board or of a little group. God have mercy on the church that has this kind of a preacher. This Levite has now become a priest and has a house full of idols.”
J. Vernon McGee
In Their Own Eyes
This entire story reflects the broader moral decay in society where people acted according to their own desires, leading to moral chaos and social degeneration. The people’s understanding of God was distorted, and they violated the two greatest commandments, which were central to their faith and relationship with God. There was no leadership or authority to guide them, resulting in a time of moral and spiritual decline.
The very same thing is happening today. People do what they see fit all the time with little regard for the ways of God. Believers are not exempt from this sin. In today’s “consumer society,” the church can sometimes become a place where personal success, fame, and material wealth are idolized. Leaders may focus on building their brand, gaining followers, or increasing attendance rather than focusing on the true mission of the church – to make disciples, teach God’s Word, and serve others.
The irony is thick at the end of Judges 17. Micah is convinced that the Lord will be “good to him” because he has a personal priest and worship center. He could not be more wrong.
“He is wrong, of course. In fact, he is standing on the edge of a chasm, for we have come to a major turning point in the development of the plot. Micah’s personal fortunes, which have risen steadily throughout the first two episodes, are about to undergo a sudden reversal. From now on nothing will go right for him. It is a moment of the most exquisite irony.”
New International Commentary – Old Testament
