Juízes 17

Juízes 17

Wiersbe - The family was devoted to idolatry. The son had established his own priesthood and was a thief, and the mother was guilty of speaking both curses and blessings (James 3:9-10+). She was concerned more about her money than about her son’s character. (See context With the Word: The Chapter-by-Chapter Bible Handbook or borrow With the Word) Keil and Delitzsch - His mother did this, because her son Micah had a house of God, and had had an ephod and teraphim made for himself, and one of his sons consecrated to officiate there as a priest. הָאִישׁ מִיכָה (the man Micah) is therefore placed at the head absolutely, and is connected with what follows by לֹו: “As for the man Micah, there was to him (he had) a house of God.” The whole verse is a circumstantial clause explanatory of what precedes, and the following verbs וַיַּעַשׂ, וַיְמַלֵּא, and וַיְהִי, are simply a continuation of the first clause, and therefore to be rendered as pluperfects. Micah’s beth Elohim (house of God) was a domestic temple belonging to Micah’s house, according to Judg. 18:15–18. מִלֵּא אֶת־יָד, to fill the hand, i.e., to invest with the priesthood, to institute as priest (see at Lev. 7:37). The ephod was an imitation of the high priest’s shoulder-dress (see at Jdg. 8:27). The teraphim were images of household gods, penates, who were worshipped as the givers of earthly prosperity, and as oracles (see at Gen. 31:19).—In v. 6 it is observed, in explanation of this unlawful conduct, that at that time there was no king in Israel, and every one did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17 Commentary) Judges 17:5 And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest. And the man Micah had a shrine Jdg 18:24. Ge 31:30. Ezra 1:7. Ho 8:14. and he made an ephod. Jdg 8:27. 18:14. Ex 28:4, 15. 1 S 23:6. and household idols Ge 31:19, 30 Ho 3:4. consecrated Ex 28:41 Ex 29:9. 1 Ki 12:31. 13:33, 34. He 5:4. one of his sons Ex 24:5. HOMEMADE RELIGION And the man Micah had a shrine (bayith = house + elohim = gods) and he made an ephod (epod) and household idols (teraphim; Lxx = theraphim - transliterated) - A shrine is literally "a house of gods" which may be an intentional contrast with "the house of God," which was probably not that far from Micah's house, since it was located at Shiloh (Jdg 18:31+) which was in the same territory of Ephraim. The household idols (teraphim) is used for “idols.” Though plural in form, “teraphim” can refer either to one or more “household idols”. Scripture consistently condemns the use of teraphim, Samuel declaring to King Saul that "Rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry (Hebrew = teraphim). Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." (1Sa 15:23). SHRINE - "a sanctuary or sacred place set apart for worship. The Israelites worshiped God first in the tabernacle and later in the Temple after its completion by Solomon. But they never spoke of worshiping God in a shrine. This word was always used to describe the temples or sacred places where pagan gods were worshiped (Jdg 17:1-5). The prophet Ezekiel spoke of adulterous and idolatrous Jerusalem erecting a pagan shrine at every road and building (Eze 16:24, 31)." (See Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) L M Grant…Micah also had a shrine. Where did he learn of this but from the idolatrous nations in the land? He made an ephod also, copying what was only to be worn by the high priest of Israel (Lev. 8:7). Then to crown his wickedness, he consecrated his son as his priest (Jdg 17:5). Scripture had declared plainly that only those of the line of Aaron were priests, and anyone who dared to infringe on this was to be put to death (Nu 18:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Also, a priest was a priest for all Israel, not for a family. But independence is a natural weed of the human heart, and that independence expressed itself everywhere in Israel at the time: "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6). (Comments On Judges)