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Chapter 17

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

¹ 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.

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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."

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"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."

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So the young Levite decided to stay with the man, to whom he became as one of his own sons.

12

² 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."