Jud 17:1
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.

Jud 17:3
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.

Jud 17:5
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 God's hands, as in
         Jud 18:5,6.

Jud 17:6
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.

Jud 17:7
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.

Jud 17:9
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.

Jud 17:11
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.

Jud 17:13
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 God's
          favour, when indeed he detests them.

This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College. Last updated on May 27, 1999. Contacting the CCEL.