Judges 17:8-13

Judges 17:8

And the man departed out of the city from Beth-lehem-judah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

 

The man had begun his journey by departing out of Bethlehem in Judah.  He sought a place to stay as he journeyed in the area of Mount Ephraim and being there he came to the house of Micah.

 

Judges 17:9

And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

 

Micah then asks him where he come from as he may have sought a place to stay or even a meal.  Then the man responds and tells him that he is a Levite from Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah.  He then tells him he was looking for a place not only to live but he was seeking a place where he could perform his priestly duties.

 

Judges 17:10

And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

 

Micah then jumps on the opportunity of wanting to hire this man.  He wanted him to be a father and priest which was basically a counselor and an intercessor.  His wages would be e shekels of silver for a yearly salary which included a suit of apparel which may have been priestly garments to do the work of a priest and also included meals.  The Levite thought this was a good offer so he went into the house of Micah.

 

Judges 17:11

And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

 

The Levite was contented to stay with Micah liking the arrangement and he treated him as if he was one of his own sons.  Micah was pleased that he had joined his household and became one of the family.

 

Judges 17:12

And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

 

Micah then consecrated the Levite for the work of his priestly duties.  He became Micah’s priest and had dwelled in Micah’s house and Micah had given much material reward for his duty.

 

Judges 17:13

Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

 

Micah had thought within himself that he did real good and that the Lord would do him good just because he had a Levite as his personal priest.  The problem was that there was a mixture of the worship of God and the worship of idols.  So it really was not that good what had transpired in Micah’s house.  Idols in any form were forbidden by God. 

 

18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?  19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.  (Habakkuk 2:18-19, KJV)

 

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.  16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;  17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.  18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.  (Psalm 135:15-18, KJV)

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