# Judges 17 đź“–: Micah's Idol
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Micah Makes His Own Religion
[[#Verse 01.]]Â There was a man named Micah from the Ephraimite hill country.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] He said to his mother, “You know the 1,100 pieces of silver which were stolen from you, about which I heard you pronounce a curse? Look here, I have the silver. I stole it, but now I am giving it back to you.” His mother said, “May the Lord reward you, my son!”Â
[[#Verse 03.]] When he gave back to his mother the 1,100 pieces of silver, his mother said, “I solemnly dedicate this silver to the Lord. It will be for my son’s benefit. We will use it to make a carved image and a metal image.”
[[#Verse 04.]] When he gave the silver back to his mother, she took 200 pieces of silver to a silversmith, who made them into a carved image and a metal image. She then put them in Micah’s house.
[[#Verse 05.]] Now this man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod and some personal idols and hired one of his sons to serve as a priest.Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.
### Micah Hires a Professional
[[#Verse 07.]]Â There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah. He was a Levite who had been temporarily residing among the tribe of Judah.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find another place to live. He came to the Ephraimite hill country and made his way to Micah’s house.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” He replied, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I am looking for a new place to live.”Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Micah said to him, “Stay with me. Become my adviser and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food.”Â
[[#Verse 11.]]Â So the Levite agreed to stay with the man; the young man was like a son to Micah.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Micah paid the Levite; the young man became his priest and lived in Micah’s house.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] Micah said, “Now I know the Lord will make me rich, because I have this Levite as my priest.”
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Chapters 17-21 are an appendix that probably comes from early in the judges period, since Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, is still serving (20:28).
2. Micah's name means "Who is like the Lord?", ironic for a man who made an idol.
3. Eleven hundred pieces of silver (17:2) is the same amount each Philistine ruler paid Delilah (16:5).
4. Micah's mother pronounced a curse on the thief, then blessed her son when he confessed (17:2).
5. Teraphim (17:5) were household idols, like the ones Rachel stole from Laban (Genesis 31:19).
6. Micah installed his own son as priest (17:5), though only Aaron's descendants were to serve as priests.
7. Levites had no tribal territory and lived in assigned towns (Numbers 35:2-8).
8. This Levite came from Bethlehem in Judah (17:7), and the story in chapters 19-21 also involves Bethlehem.
9. Micah paid the Levite ten pieces of silver a year, plus clothing and food (17:10).
10. The phrase "in those days there was no king in Israel" appears four times in chapters 17-21 (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true King and Priest Israel needed. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes (17:6), but Jesus is our great High Priest and King who leads us in God's way (Hebrews 4:14).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Micah's mother dedicated silver to the Lord and then used it to make an idol (17:3-4). How do we mix devotion to God with our own ideas?
2. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes (17:6). Where do you see that attitude today?
3. Micah thought having a Levite guaranteed God's blessing (17:13). Why can't religious props earn God's favor?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verses 3-4: Micah's mother dedicates silver to the Lord and then has an idol made.
- đź“– verse 6: There was no king, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
- đź“– verse 13: Micah assumes the Lord will bless him because he has a Levite as priest.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Deuteronomy 12#Verse 08.|Deuteronomy 12:8]] - Not doing what is right in your own eyes.
- đź”— [[Exodus 20#Verse 04.|Exodus 20:4]] - No carved images.
- đź”— [[Proverbs 14#Verse 12.|Proverbs 14:12]] - A way that seems right leads to death.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 04#Verse 14.|Hebrews 4:14-16]] - Jesus is our great High Priest.
- đź”— [[Judges 21#Verse 25.|Judges 21:25]] - Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[Judges 17 - SOAP|The Way to (NOT) Get God’s Attention]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes