_MICAH, AN EPHRAIMITE, RESTORES THE MONEY WHICH HE HAD TAKEN FROM HIS MOTHER; FROM WHICH SHE COMMANDS A GRAVEN IMAGE TO BE MADE; MICAH HIRES A LEVITE TO BE HIS PRIEST._ _Before Christ 1426._ _JUDGES 17:1. AND THERE WAS A MAN OF MOUNT EPHRAIM_— The second part of the book of Judges begins here; co... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT WHICH THOU CURSEDST— Houbigant renders this, _and for which you put me to my oath;_ connecting the whole sentence thus: _the eleven hundred shekels of silver which thou saidst in my hearing were taken from thee, and for which thou didst put me to my oath, behold, are with me,_ &c. In which he... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY SON, TO MAKE A GRAVEN IMAGE, AND A MOLTEN IMAGE— It is very plain, from the sequel, that the intention of this woman was, not to form any images of false gods to herself, but to make a representation of the tabernacle in Shiloh. She says, _I had wholly dedicated the silver unto Jehovah;_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HOUSE OF GODS— This might be rendered more properly, a temple or house of God; אלהים בית _beith elohim:_ so the LXX and the Vulgate render it, as well as Houbigant, _aedes deo sacra._ Micah and his family were desirous to have a little tabernacle, a place consecrated to the _elohim,_ at their own... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL— That is to say, no supreme governor; and, consequently, a total anarchy prevailed, (see 2 Chronicles 15:3.) which words are inserted, not only as a reason why Micah set up this sanctuary at home, being afraid, through the deficiency of government, and the d... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID MICAH, NOW KNOW I, &C.— What a strange infatuation! Micah is at the summit of his wishes because the Levite has accepted his offers, and because he sees his chapel consecrated, and a priest of the sacerdotal line minister of the new religion planned out by his mother. Micah had rendered hi... [ Continue Reading ]