Worship Confusion in Israel

Judges 17 (KJV)

In this chapter, confusion is shown in Israel through mixing the worship of the real God with idol worship.  The chapter begins with the introduction of Micah from Ephraim whose mother had complained about losing eleven hundred shekels of silver.  It turns out that Micah was the one who took the silver.  Micah admits taking the silver and returns it to his mother.  “And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son” (v.2).  “…I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee” (v.3).

“Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.  And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.  In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (vs. 4-6).

As the chapter continues, a young Levite man from the family of Judah travels from Beth-lehem-judah to find a place.  Along his journey, the Levite came to Micah’s house.  “And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.  And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals.  So the Levite went in.  And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.  And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.  Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest” (vs. 9-13).