Judges 17
DOYLYJudges 17:3
- — to make a graven image] To make some resemblance of God for the convenience of Micah and his family, that he might worship at home, without the Micah’s idolatry. He hireth a Levite to be his priest. Before CHRIST about 1406. now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
Judges 17:5
- — had an house of gods,] The Hebrew words should rather be translated, “a house of God;” for his intention was, to make, at his own home, an imitation of the house of God at Shiloh: still it is not improper to say, (as we translate,) “an house of gods,” because, whatsoever his intention was, to worship God by images was accounted the worshipping of other gods. To increase this resemblance to the true Divine service, he caused priestly garments to be made, especially an ephod, (like that which the high priest wore;) and teraphim, or images, by means of which probably he thought he might consult God; and consecrated one of his sons to be priest. Bp. Patrick. His intention was to set up an oracle in his own house in imitation of the sanctuary of Moses; and, to make the resemblance the greater, he appears to have erected a kind of ark, on which he placed his two teraphim, (in imitation perhaps of the two cherubim in the tabernacle,) and caused the priest, who officiated for him, to wear an ephod, in the manner of the high priest when he consulted God. Since the laws of God condemn the making of images of any kind, as objects of adoration, it is certain that Micah was guilty of a violation of these prohibitions, and cannot be excused from the crime of idolatry. Stackhouse. a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and So the Levite went in.
Judges 17:6
- In those days there was no king] That is, this was before the time of the judges, who had a sovereign power to correct abuses, and especially to suppress idolatry. Bp. Patrick. It is thought to have been between the death of those elders that outlived Joshua, and the first oppression of Israel by Caahan. Dr. Wells. It is well seen that there was then no king in Israel, when the laws of God were thus violated: if Moses or Joshua had been their king, their sword would have awed them; if any other, the courses of Israel could not have been so heedless. We are beholden to government for order, for peace, for religion. Bp. Hall.
Judges 17:8
- — to sojourn where he could find a place:] By this it appears, that he rambled about from place to place to find a subsistence. Sufficient provision was made for the Levites by the tribes of the land; but we may suppose they were not well paid in a time of such confusion, when there was no supreme authority. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 17:13
- — Now know I &c.] By this it is evident, that he did not intend to forsake the Lord; but was so blinded by false notions, that he took one small benefit for a sufficient sign of His favour, when he was guilty of such great offences; first, in making idols, then in appointing one of his sons a priest, and afterwards in taking upon him to consecrate a Levite to be priest, of which office he was not capable. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XVIII. ver. 1. — sought them an inheritance] They had an inheritance allotted to them like the rest of the tribes, Josh. xix. 40, &c. but, from their own sloth, and the want of that brotherly assistance which the other tribes should have afforded them, they could