CHAPTER XVII _Micah, an Ephraimite, restores to his mother_ eleven hundred _shekels of silver, which he had taken from her_, 1, 2. _She dedicates this to God; and out of a part of it makes a_ _graven image and a molten image, and gets them up tn the_ _house of Micah_, 3, 4; _who consecrates on... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:2. _ABOUT WHICH THOU CURSEDST_] Houbigant and others understand this of _putting the young man to his oath_. It is likely that when the mother of Micah missed the money, she poured imprecations on the thief; and that Micah, who had secreted it, hearing this, was alarmed, and restored... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:3. _I HAD WHOLLY DEDICATED_] From this it appears that Micah's mother, though she made a superstitious use of the money, had no _idolatrous_ design, for she expressly says she had dedicated it ליהוה _layhovah, to Jehovah_; and this appears to have been the reason why she poured impre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:4. _A GRAVEN IMAGE AND A MOLTEN IMAGE_] What these images were, we cannot positively say; they were most probably some resemblance of matters belonging to the tabernacle. See below.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:5. _THE MAN MICAH HAD A HOUSE OF GODS_] בית אלהים _beith_ _Elohim_ should, I think, be translated _house_ or _temple of God_; for it is very likely that both the mother and the son intended no more than a private or domestic chapel, in which they proposed to set up the worship of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:6. THERE WAS _NO KING IN ISRAEL_] The word מלך _melech_, which generally means _king_, is sometimes taken for a supreme _governor, judge, magistrate_, or _ruler_ of any kind; (see Genesis 36:31, and Deuteronomy 33:5); and it is likely it should be so understood here. _EVERY MAN DID... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:7. _OF THE FAMILY OF JUDAH_] The word _family_ may be taken here for _tribe_; or the young man might have been of the tribe of _Judah_ by his _mother_, and of the tribe of _Levi_ by his _father_, for he is called here a _Levite_; and it is probable that he might have officiated at Sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:8. _TO SOJOURN WHERE HE COULD FIND_] He went about the country seeking for some employment, for the Levites had no inheritance: besides, no secure residence could be found where there was no civil government.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:10. _BE UNTO ME A FATHER AND A PRIEST_] Thou shalt be _master_ of my house, as if thou wert my father; and, as _priest_, thou shalt appear in the presence of God for me. The term _father_ is often used to express _honour_ and _reverence_. _TEN_ SHEKELS _OF SILVER_] About thirty shil... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:11. _THE LEVITE WAS CONTENT_] He thought the place a good one, and the wages respectable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:12. _MICAH CONSECRATED THE LEVITE_] וימלא את יד _vayemalle_ _eth yad, he filled his hands_, i.e., he gave him an _offering_ to present before the Lord, that he might be accepted by him. He _appointed_ him to be priest; God was to _accept_ and _consecrate_ him; and for this purpose he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 17:13. _NOW KNOW I THAT THE LORD WILL DO ME GOOD_] As he had already provided an epitome of the _tabernacle_, a model of the _ark,_ _mercy-seat_, and _cherubim_; and had got proper _sacerdotal vestments,_ and a _Levite_ to officiate; he took for granted that all was right, and that he s... [ Continue Reading ]