Judges 17:6-13

6 (In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.)

7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehem in Judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place; and he came to Mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

9 And Micah said unto him, "From whence comest thou?" And he said unto him, "I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place."

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.

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

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

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

Judges 17:6-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 17

This chapter relates the first rise of idolatry in Israel after the death of Joshua, which began in Mount Ephraim, occasioned by a sum of money stolen by a man from his mother, which being restored, part was converted to an idolatrous use; two images were made of it, Jud 17:1-5 and there being no king in Israel to take cognizance of it, the idolatry took place and continued, and afterwards spread, Jud 17:6, and this idolater not only made one of his sons a priest, but took a Levite for another, whom he hired by the year to serve him, Jud 17:7-13.