1 There was a man in the mountain region of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2 He said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver over which you pronounced a curse in my hearing when they were taken from you, are in my possession. It was I who took them; so now I will restore them to you."
3 When he restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she took two hundred of them and gave them to the silversmith, who made of them a carved idol overlaid with silver.
4 Then his mother said, "May the LORD bless my son! I have consecrated the silver to the LORD as my gift in favor of my son, by making a carved idol overlaid with silver." It remained in the house of Micah.
5 Thus the layman Micah had a sanctuary. He also made an ephod and household idols, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what he thought best.
7 There was a young Levite who had resided within the tribe of Judah at Bethlehem of Judah.
8 From that city he set out to find another place of residence. On his journey he came to the house of Micah in the mountain region of Ephraim.
9 Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" He answered him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and am on my way to find some other place of residence."
10 "Stay with me," Micah said to him. "Be father and priest to me, and I will give you ten silver shekels a year, a set of garments, and your food."
11 So the young Levite decided to stay with the man, to whom he became as one of his own sons.
12 Micah consecrated the young Levite, who became his priest, remaining in his house.
13 Therefore Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, since the Levite has become my priest."
Versículos relacionados com Judges, 17:
Judges chapter 17 relates the story of a man named Mica who made himself an idol and a house of gods. He also hired a Levite to be his private priest. This story illustrates the lack of spiritual leadership at the time of the judges, when each one did what he thought is right in his own eyes.
Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way that man seems right, but by hand on the ways of death." This verse warns of the illusion of following our own wishes and desires, which can lead to disastrous consequences.
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust the Lord of all your heart, and do not stir in your own understanding. Recognizes him in all your ways, and he will straighten your paths." This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting God and seeking His will in our lives rather than following our own ways.
Jeremiah 10:14: "Every man is stupid, without knowledge; all goldsmith is embarrassed by the carved image; for his images are false, and in them there is no spirit." This verse condemns the worship of idols and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the true nature of God.
Acts 17:24-25: "The God who has made the world and all that there is, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by men; nor is it served by human hands, as if from any Thing needed; for he himself is the one who gives everyone life, breathing and everything; " This verse highlights God's transcendent nature and the uselessness of trying to limit it to physical objects or places.
Psalm 81:9: "Thou shalt not have other gods before me. Thou shalt not make the image of sculpture to thee, nor any resemblance of what is above in heaven, nor under the earth, nor in the waters under the earth." This verse is a reminder of the prohibition of the worship of idols and the importance of placing God first in our lives.
Fejezetek: