Judges 17

Micha’s moter causeth the idolatrous images to me made of money which her son Micha had stolen from her and restored back Verse 1 &c. for which Micha prepareth an idols house with an Ephod and household gods and maketh one of his sons a priest 5 how the case stood at Israel at that time 6 afterwards Micha getteth a Levite that travelled through country whom for a certain salary or wage he entertaineth to be priest in his sons stead 7 thinking that God therefore must needs favor and bless him 13.

1. And there was a man of the mountain of Ephraim whose name was Micha [when the things mentioned in this and the following chapters of this book were there be divers opinion concerning it the nearest seemeth to be that least the order of the history of the judged should be broke they are hither to pur off and after adjoined the present lively before out eyes the much decayed estate of Israel and the justice of Gods punishment but were not done after Simsons death but shortly after the death of Joshua and of the pious eldest within that time which is described above chapter 2.10,11,12,13, and chapter 3.5,6,7,8 the attentive reader may compare Joshua 9.47 with above chapter 13.25 and below chapter 18.1,7,12,27,29 item below chapter 19.11 with above chapter 1.8 also consider chapter 20.28 where mention is made of the priest Pineas Aarons grandchild living at that time of whom we read Numbers 25:7 &c. and Joshua 22:13,3.]

2. The same said unto his mother the thousand and hundred silverlings [see genesis 20 on verse 16] which more were taken from thee for which thou cursedst [viz. thereof that had taken them from thee] and also speaketh before mine enemies [so that I myself heardteh curse he seemeth hereby to be moved to confession and restitution] behold that money[or silverlings] with me have taken it then said his mother blessed beamy son to the Lord [as if she should say far beit from me my son that I should wish that curse to come upon thee in regard of thee I do utterly revoke it.]

3. So he gave his mother the thousand and hundred silverlings but his mother said I have wholly dedicated that money to the LORD[Heb. Dedicated have dedicated unto the Lord this was the cloak of idolatry that they would thrust the same upon God as if it were done to his service against so many express command of the Lord as the book of Moses and the ten commandments themselves testify] from my hand for my son [that is sons son see verse 5] to make a carved image and a molten image [it seemeth that she meant two images one carved and one molten as may be seen chapter 18.17,18 although there in verse 20,30,31 there is only mention made of one likewise here verse 4 its said in singular numbers that viz. image was in the house of Micah which the attentive reader may observe] now therefore will I restore to it again.

4. But he restored that money unto his mother and his mother took two hundred silverlings and gave them to the goldsmith who made thereof a carved image and a molten image [it is understood that it was first graven or carved in marble or some other staff afterwards laid in or covered over with silver plates far of so small a sum no pure silver image could be made which should be of that bigness that it should be first used in this idols house and afterwards used as a common image in the image often city of Dan.] that was in the house of Micah.

5. And the man Micah had an house of gods he made [viz. often remaining sum of money]an Ephod [see Exodus 28 on verse 4] and Teraphim [see Genesis 31 on verse 19] and filled the hand [see Leviticus 7 on verse 27 so below verse 12] of one of his son that he might be a priest unto him [he did all this against the expess command of God for God had commanded but one Ephod to be made Viz. for eh high priest in Israel who was to ask counsel of God by Urim and Thummim Numbers 27:21 images in the presence of God were severely forbidden and none might be priest but he was one of the Aarons race see Numbers 16:40 an d18.2,7 &c.]

6. In those days there was no king in Israel [that is no governors rulers judges or supreme magistrate who kept the people in discipline and order otherwise it might seem as if formerly they had been kings in Israel but now not so is the word king also commonly taken for ruler Genesis 36:31 Deuteronomy 33:5] everyone did that which was righteous in his eyes [this is here and in the following chapter more than once rehearsed as a reason of this gross looseness and lincentiousness that everyone did not that which was right and good in the eyes of God but in his own eyes that is what seemed good unto himself and that he had a mind to from hence also may be gathered that these histories may appertain to a time wherein no judge or lawful magistrate or supreme power was in Israel.]

7. Now there was a young man [of the Hebrew word see Genesis on verse 5] of Bethlehem Judah of the tribe of Judah [these words are by most understood ofBethlehem Judah so that they are here added by the holy ghost to express more clearly that this Bethlehem to distinguish or difference it from other which belonged to Zebulon Joshua 19:15 without appertaining to the family and tribe of Judah and that because this should be one of the birth place of Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ some apply them to the Levites who was indeed of the tribe of Judah levi but born and bred up at Bethlehem or by mothers side of the tribe of Judah or also as some conceive in truth of the tribe of Judah but not withstanding to the corruption and depravedness of those times made there at Levite and so used as Jeroboam likewise likewise did 1 Kings 12:31 2 Chronicles 11:14,15 but this seemeth not to agree well verse 13 for Micha would as well been contended with his own son who was of Ephraim as with his man if he had been of Judah not of Levi]this was a Levite and conversed there as a stranger.

8. And this man was gone out of that city out of Bethlehem Judah to converse where he should find opportunity now when he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micha to go [Heb. to do] his journey [otherwise doing his journey.]

9. Micah said unto him from whence comest thou? and he said unto him I am a Levte f Bethlehen Judah and I walk to converse where I shall find opportunity.

10. Then said Micah unto him tarry with me and be unto me a father [he giveth this title which of right belongeth to the true prophets and sincere teachers of the church of God in respect of their spiritual right fatherly benefits and offices done to the people of God as children unjustly and wrongfully to this idolatrous parasite see 2King 6.21 and 8.9 and 13.14 Isaiah 22:21 1Corinthians 4.14,15 1Thessalonians 2.11] and a priest and a I will give thee yearly [Heb. In days that is in a year of days that is a whole or full year see above chapter 11 on verse 40] ten silverlings and order of garments [that is will furnish thee as many clothes as thou according to thy condition salt have need of others a suit or two suits of apparel also the worth of apparel] and thy victual so the Levite went with him [viz. with Micha to his house.]

11. And the Levite consented to tarry with that man was unto him as of his sons [that is he loved and esteemed him as if he had been one of his sons.]

12. And Micha filled the hand of the Levite [as above verse 5] that he became a priest unto so he was in the house of Micha.

13. then said Micha now I know that the Lord will do well unto me because I have this Levite for a priest [although he many ways as is mentioned above committed idolatry yet he persuade himself that he is idolatry must needs please God a clear glass of abominable corruption at that time.]