The Book of Judges

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 17 -

There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim whose name was Michas,

Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst swear in my hearing, behold I have, and they are with me. And she said to him: Blessed be my son by the Lord.

So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god, so now I deliver it to thee.

And he restored them to his mother: and she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a graven and a molten god, which was in the house of Michas.

And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and idols: and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there.

Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas,

He was asked by him whence he came. And he answered: I am a Levite of Bethlehem Juda, and I am going to dwell where I can, and where I shall find a place to my advantage.

And Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a double suit of apparel, and thy victuals.

He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons.

And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him, for his priest, saying:

Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites.

There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

He said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears—behold, the silver is with me. I took it.” His mother said, “May the LORD bless my son!”

He restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, then his mother said, “I most certainly dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a molten image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.”

When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave them to a silversmith, who made a carved image and a molten image out of it. It was in the house of Micah.

The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim,(a) and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.

There was a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he lived there.

The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to live where he could find a place, and he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he traveled.

Micah said to him, “Where did you come from?” He said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem Judah, and I am looking for a place to live.”

Micah said to him, “Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, a suit of clothing, and your food.” So the Levite went in.

The Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.

Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will do good to me, since I have a Levite as my priest.”

Footnotes

(a)17:5 teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.