Judges 18:13-19

Judges 18:13

And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

 

Then the army of 600 had come unto Mount Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.  This was a trek of about 8 miles (13 km).

 

Judges 18:14

Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

 

The five men who originally spied out the area had told those of the 600 that in the house of Micah there was an ephod which was used by the priest and teraphim which were household gods, and the graven and molten image which the lady had made out of the 200 shekels of silver.  They were not sure at this point whether they should go in and have the Levite prophesy if their journey would be successful or if they should take all the idols and the Levite from the house with them.

 

Judges 18:15

And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

 

So they decided to go to the house of the Levite which may have been a little out of their way.  It was probably an apartment attached to the side of Micah’s house.  They saw the Levite and saluted him which was a gesture of friendship to build up a relationship with him.

 

Judges 18:16

And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.

 

While the five men went into the house of the Levite, the six hundred men had placed themselves at the entrance of the city where Micah’s home was.  They might have been waiting for word as to what their decision might be concerning the Levite.

 

Judges 18:17

And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.

 

The five men had then gathered all the idols and the ephod outside of the house.  This happened while the Levite stood at the entrance to the city with the six hundred armed men.

 

Judges 18:18

And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?

 

While the Levite was outside with the men of Dan, the five had gathered the idols and the ephod and took them from the house and when the Levite saw them, he had asked them what they were doing?  He probably thought they were betraying his kindness to them by plundering his house.  If the idols went missing, then he would be out of work.

 

Judges 18:19

And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

 

They basically told him to keep his mouth shut and listen to their proposal.  They wanted him to go with them.  They were probably figuring that since the five men received a good report from him when they were spying out the land that they would receive a good report and success if he went with them.  Then they offered him a bigger area of ministry.  Instead of being the priest for one man they wanted him to be the priest for the entire tribe of Dan or maybe to large family with several dwelling places.  The decision was his to make.

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