Judges 17

1 Now a man [of great importance, a male person] named Micah [who is like God, Micahu] from the hill country [mountainous region] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel] word study 2 said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels [pieces of silver, a large amount of money] of silver that were taken [stolen, robbed] from you and about which I heard you utter a curse [swear, make a vow]—I have the silver [money, wealth] here with me; I took [got, acquired] it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed [praised, honored] be my son [child, descendant] by the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]!” word study 3 And when he had returned [given back, restored] the eleven hundred shekels of silver [a large amount of money, a significant wealth] to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate [consecrate, set apart as holy] the silver to the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] for my son’s benefit [on behalf of my son, for his advantage], to make a graven image [a carved idol, a false god] and a molten idol [a cast metal image, a liquid metal figure]. Therefore I will now return [give back, restore] it to you.” word study 4 So he returned [gave back, restored] the silver [money, payment] to his mother, and she took [received, got] two hundred [a couple of hundred] shekels of silver [valuable metal, wealth] and gave [handed over, entrusted] them to a silversmith [metal-worker, refiner], who made [crafted, formed] them into a graven image [idol, carved figure] and a molten idol [cast image, liquid metal figure]. And they were placed [set up, established] in the house [dwelling place, home] of Micah [who is like God, Micahu]. word study 5 Now this man [a male person, individual] Micah had a shrine [house of gods, a place for idol worship], and he made [created, fashioned] an ephod [a special vest, priestly garment] and some household idols [teraphim, family gods], and ordained [consecrated, set apart] one of his sons [a descendant, child] as his priest [one who serves God, a spiritual leader]. word study 6 In those days [a period of time, an era] there was no king [ruler, leader] in Israel [the descendants of Jacob]; everyone [each person, individual] did what was right [just, straight, convenient] in his own eyes [sight, perception, understanding]. word study 7 And there was a young [youth, from infancy to adolescence] Levite [a descendant of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons] from Bethlehem [house of bread, a place in Judah] in Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] who had been residing [sojourning, dwelling temporarily] within the clan [family, tribe, or nation] of Judah [the region where the tribe lived]. word study 8 This man [a male person, an individual] left the city [a place with a wall or a watchman] of Bethlehem [house of bread, a place of food production] in Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, a region] to settle [to sojourn, to dwell] where he could find [to attain, to discover] a place [a dwelling, a location]. And as he traveled [to walk, to journey], he came to Micah’s [Micaiah, who is like God] house [a dwelling place, a family home] in the hill country [a mountain or hill] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe descended from Joseph]. word study 9 “Where [from what place, whence] are you from?” Micah asked him. “I am a Levite [a descendant of Levi, from the tribe of Levi] from Bethlehem [house of bread, a place in Judah] in Judah [the region of the tribe of Judah],” he replied, “and I am on my way [going, traveling] to settle [to sojourn, dwell] wherever [in any place, where I may find] I can find [discover, attain] a place [a location, a home].” word study 10 “Stay [dwell, reside] with me,” Micah [Micaiah, who is like God] said to him, “and be [exist, come into being] my father [one who guides and protects] and priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], and I will give [provide, bestow] you ten shekels [units of silver, a form of currency] of silver [a valuable metal] per year [a cycle of time, a period of twelve months], a suit [a set, a collection] of clothes [garments, attire], and your provisions [nourishment, sustenance, all that you need to live].” So the Levite [a descendant of Levi, a tribe of priests] went in [entered, proceeded] word study 11 and agreed to stay [dwell, abide] with him [the man, Micah], and the young man [youth, one from infancy to adolescence] became like [as one of, similar to] a son [a descendant, one born of] to Micah. word study 12 Micah [Micaiah, who is like God] ordained [consecrated, filled the hand of] the Levite [a descendant of Levi], and the young man [youth, a young person] became his priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] and lived [existed, came into being] in his house [dwelling place, the place where one resides]. word study 13 Then Micah said, “Now [at this moment, in this time] I know [have come to understand, am certain] that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will be good [bestow blessing, show kindness] to me, because [since, for the reason that] a Levite [a descendant of Levi, a priestly tribe] has become [been given to me as, has come to be] my priest [spiritual leader, one who serves God on my behalf].” word study