Judges 17
Geneva Study Bible
And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
And there {a} was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

(a) Some think this history was in the time of Othniel, or as Josephus writes, immediately after Joshua.

And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a {b} graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

(b) Contrary to the commandment of God and true religion practised under Joshua, they forsook the Lord and fell into idolatry.

Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an {c} ephod, and {d} teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

(c) He would serve both God and idols.

(d) By Teraphim some understand certain idols, having the likeness of a man, but others understand by it all manner of things and instruments belonging to those who sought an answer at God's hands, as in Jud 18:5,6.

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
In those days there was no {e} king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

(e) For where there is no Magistrate fearing God, there can be no true religion or order.

And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah {f} of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

(f) Which Bethlehem was in the tribe of Judah.

And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, {g} I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

(g) For in those days the service of God was corrupt in all estates and the Levites were not looked to.

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

(h) Not considering that he forsook the true worship of God to maintain his own belly.

And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me {i} good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

(i) Thus the idolaters persuade themselves of God's favour, when indeed he detests them.

The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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