1. καὶ ἐγένετο ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μιχαιας
2. καὶ εἶπεν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ οἱ χίλιοι καὶ ἑκατόν οὓς ἔλαβες ἀργυρίου σεαυτῇ καί με ἠράσω καὶ προσεῖπας ἐν ὠσί μου ἰδοὺ τὸ ἀργύριον παρ’ ἐμοί ἐγὼ ἔλαβον αὐτό καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εὐλογητὸς ὁ υἱός μου τῷ κυρίῳ
3. καὶ ἀπέδωκεν τοὺς χιλίους καὶ ἑκατὸν τοῦ ἀργυρίου τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ ἁγιάζουσα ἡγίακα τὸ ἀργύριον τῷ κυρίῳ ἐκ χειρός μου τῷ υἱῷ μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν καὶ νῦν ἀποδώσω σοι αὐτό
4. καὶ ἀπέδωκεν τὸ ἀργύριον τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ διακοσίους ἀργυρίου καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸ ἀργυροκόπῳ καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸ γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια
5. καὶ ὁ οἶκος Μιχαια αὐτῷ οἶκος θεοῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν εφωδ καὶ θαραφιν καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν τὴν χεῖρα ἀπὸ ἑνὸς υἱῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα
6. ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ ἀνὴρ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ἐποίει
7. καὶ ἐγενήθη νεανίας ἐκ Βηθλεεμ δήμου Ιουδα καὶ αὐτὸς Λευίτης καὶ οὗτος παρῴκει ἐκεῖ
8. καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ Βηθλεεμ τῆς πόλεως Ιουδα παροικῆσαι ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν εὕρῃ τόπῳ καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ἕως οἴκου Μιχαια τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ
9. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μιχαιας πόθεν ἔρχῃ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν Λευίτης εἰμὶ ἀπὸ Βαιθλεεμ Ιουδα καὶ ἐγὼ πορεύομαι παροικῆσαι ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν εὕρω τόπῳ
10. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Μιχαιας κάθου μετ’ ἐμοῦ καὶ γίνου μοι εἰς πατέρα καὶ εἰς ἱερέα καὶ ἐγὼ δώσω σοι δέκα ἀργυρίου εἰς ἡμέραν καὶ στολὴν ἱματίων καὶ τὰ πρὸς ζωήν σου καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ Λευίτης
11. καὶ ἤρξατο παροικεῖν παρὰ τῷ ἀνδρί καὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ νεανίας παρ’ αὐτῷ ὡς εἷς ἀπὸ υἱῶν αὐτοῦ
12. καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν Μιχαιας τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Λευίτου καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν οἴκῳ Μιχαια
13. καὶ εἶπεν Μιχαιας νῦν ἔγνων ὅτι ἀγαθυνεῖ κύριος ἐμοί ὅτι ἐγένετό μοι ὁ Λευίτης εἰς ἱερέα
Footnotes:
17:1-2 - The story of Micah, who establishes an idol house, highlights the apostasy in Israel. Micah seeks God's protection through sacred objects, revealing the confusion between true worship and idolatry (see also Exodus 20:4-5 and Deuteronomy 12:29-31).
17:5-6 - Israel's kinglessness is evident, with everyone doing what was right in their own eyes. This moral anarchy reflects the absence of leadership and the need for a righteous ruler (see also Proverbs 29:18 and 1 Samuel 8:5).
17:7-10 - Micah's hiring of a Levite to be his priest demonstrates his quest for religious legitimacy, even amid idolatry. This choice illustrates the distortion of true worship and the corruption of cultus (see also 1 Kings 12:31 and Ezekiel 44:10-16).
17:11-12 - The Levite's loyalty to Micah, even in an environment of idolatry, points to the moral and spiritual degradation of the priesthood during the time of the Judges. This highlights the importance of faithfulness to the true worship of God (see also Psalm 119:10-11 and Ezekiel 22:26).
17:13 - Micah believes that the Levite's presence will bring God's blessing upon his household. This mistaken belief highlights the problem of mixing idolatrous practices with faith, warning of the consequences of disobedience (see also Galatians 1:6-9 and James 1:27).
Verses related to Juízes, 17:
Judges chapter 17 begins the narrative of Israel's moral decline. How does idolatry infiltrate society? This revealing text describes the story of Micah, who establishes a private sanctuary with idols and hires a Levite as his personal priest. The chapter illustrates the spiritual and moral confusion of the period, highlighting the people's departure from God's true ways. Judges 17 serves as a warning against religious syncretism. Consider with us five biblical passages that relate to the crucial themes of this disturbing chapter.
Exodus 20:4: "You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any image of anything in heaven or on earth or in the waters under the earth." - This commandment contrasts with the actions of Micah in Judges 17, who makes an idol of silver.
1 Kings 12:28-29: "After taking advice, the king had two golden calves made and said to the people: 'It has been a long time since you went up to Jerusalem. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.' He placed a calf in Bethel and another in Dan." - Jeroboam's creation of idols echoes Micah's idolatry in Judges 17.
Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters; for he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Money." - This teaching of Jesus contrasts with the mixture of worship of God and idolatry seen in Judges 17.
Acts 19:24-26: "A goldsmith named Demetrius, who made silver miniatures of the temple of Artemis, provided much profit for the craftsmen. He gathered them together, together with workers in similar occupations, and said: 'Gentlemen, you know that our prosperity depends on this activity. As you can see and hear, this Paul has convinced and led astray many people in Ephesus and in almost the entire province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are not gods.'" - This passage about idol-making in Ephesus recalls Micah's creation of the silver idol in Judges 17.
1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." - This simple warning against idolatry contrasts with Micah's actions in Judges 17.
FAQ:
Who was Micaiah and what was his mistake in Judges 17?
Micaiah was a man of Ephraim who made a silver idol and established a household cult, erring by worshiping idols, which was against God's Law. (Judges 17:1-5)
How did Micaiah receive the priest who entered his house?
Micaiah received a young Levite as a priest and hired him to officiate in his idol worship, believing this would bring blessings and success. (Judges 17:7-13)
What does Micaiah's household worship reveal about religion in Israel at the time?
Micaiah's household worship reveals a lack of centralization of worship and a tendency toward religious syncretism, including the worship of idols. (Judges 17:5)
What was the impact of Micaiah's cult on the tribe of Dan?
Micaiah's cult influenced the tribe of Dan to adopt similar practices, eventually leading to the establishment of an idolatrous cult in their city. (Judges 18:30)
What happened to the image carved by Micaiah?
The image carved by Micaiah was eventually stolen by the Danites, who took it to their tribe as part of their idol worship. (Judges 18:18)
