Chapter 17

17:1 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.

17:3 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.

17:5 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 Gods hands, as in ( Judges 18:5 Judges 18:6 ).

17:6 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.

17:7 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.

17:9 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.

17:11 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.

17:13 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 Gods favour, when indeed he detests them.