Judges 17

Please see License for Copyright notice and Licensing information.
[ Previous | Next ]

Judges 17

1 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

2 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son.

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 graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

4 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.

5 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.

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

10 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.

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

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

13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Notes

Cross Reference

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

<html> There was a man from Mount Ephraim. Although both incidents are recorded at the conclusion of this book, the episodes of Michah and the concubine at Givoh took place at the beginning of the period of Judges, during the days of Asniel ben Kenaz,¹Asniel was the first of the judges. as it is said, “They appointed, for themselves, the figure of Michah, etc., during the entire period of the Mishkon at Shiloh.”² We learn that, throughout the period of Shiloh, the graven figure of Michah was in existence.³Thus encompassing the period of Asniel, as his tenure began after the death of Yehoshua, when the Mishkon had already been established at Shiloh. Concerning the concubine at Givoh, it is said, about Yevus of Jerusalem, “Let us not turn to an alien city”⁴ we learn that Jerusalem had not yet been conquered.⁵It was later conquered by the tribe of Judah (1:8), during the time of Asniel (there, v.13).⁶Seder Olam, 12.</html>

Verse 2

<html> Stolen from you [lit. “to you”]. Stolen from you.⁷לך, lit. “to you”, may also be interpreted as “from you”. Similarly,⁸Shmuel 1, 21:6 “For women were withheld 'to' us,”—'from' us. When you cursed. You cursed whoever stole it, and even uttered the curse in my ear. Look, the silver. I confess to you, concerning it, that it is in my possession, as I stole it.</html>

Verse 3

<html> He returned the eleven hundred silver pieces to his mother. He verbalized his intent to return it to her, hence, wherever it was, it reverted to her possession. I expressly consecrated the silver, from my hand to my son's. I resolved to deliver it from my hand to yours for the purpose of making an image and a molten figure. Give it to me now, so that I may return it from my hand to you. Some say that this woman was Delilah, since Scripture specifies eleven hundred pieces of silver⁹See above 16:5.. However, they are in error, as Michah preceded Shimshon by many years.¹⁰See Rashi, v.l. But the episodes are juxtaposed because of the corrupt silver, which was of equal value in each of the incidents. The silver inflicted injury in both cases.</html>

Verse 5

<html> An idolatrous temple [lit. “temple of Elohim”]. A temple of idol worship. Similarly, “god” throughout this chapter is profane, except for the following: “Throughout the time that the Sanctuary of God was at Shiloh.”¹¹¹²Shevuos, 35:b. And inducted [lit. “filled the hands of”] one. He inducted him into the service of the image, to serve as its priest. Any induction process which a person enters for the purpose of achieving a position of prominence is described as “filling the hands,”¹³See Shemos, 28:41. “revetir” in old French. When a person is charged with a position, it is described as “reveture” in old French.</html>

Verse 7

<html> Of the klan of Yehudah. He was a Leivi maternally.¹⁴Paternally, he was descended from Yehudah. This explains why he was both “of the klan of Yehudah”, and a Levi. However, the Rabbis¹⁵Bava Basra, 109:b. interpret that, because he behaved like Menasheh,¹⁶The king who instituted idol worship throughout Eretz Yisroel. (Melachim 2, 21). who was descended from Yehudah, he is described as “of the klan of Yehudah.” He was actually a Leivi, the son of Gershom, son of our master Moshe, as stated explicitly below, “Yehonasan, son of Gershom, etc.”¹⁷</html>

Verse 8

<html> To make his way. The way by which he would journey.</html>

Verse 9

<html> Anywhere I will find a profitable livelihood.</html>

Verse 10

<html> Per year At the year's end. An appropriate wardrobe A pair of outfits appropriate for everyone's yearly requirements. An appropriate wardrobe. “Appareillement” in old French. And your board Your meals. The Levi acquiesced [lit. went] Followed his advice.</html>

ARC Wiki

Table of Contents

Judges 17

Judges 17

Notes

Cross Reference

Commentary

Rashi

Verse 1

Verse 2

Verse 3

Verse 5

Verse 7

Verse 8

Verse 9

Verse 10