"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."
Judges 17:2 presents a scene involving a man and his mother. To better understand the context, it is essential to examine the preceding and subsequent verses as well. The book of Judges:provides an account of the period between the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites and the establishment of the monarchy.
In this particular passage, the man is referred to as "he" and is not explicitly named. The verse reveals that the man confesses to his mother about taking eleven hundred shekels of silver that were previously taken from her. His mother had cursed the person who took the silver, and she had spoken about it within earshot of her son.
When the man confesses that he is the one who took the silver, his mother responds with a blessing, saying, "Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son."
Significant points:This verse highlights several significant points:
- Dishonesty and theft:The man in question had taken the silver without his mother’s knowledge. His actions were dishonest and involved stealing from his own family.
- Family dynamics:The relationship between the man and his mother is revealed in this passage. Despite his wrongdoing, his mother responds with a blessing rather than reprimanding or condemning him.
- Blessing and forgiveness:The mother’s response is surprising, as one might expect her to be angry or disappointed. Instead, she offers a blessing, which suggests forgiveness and an expression of favour from God upon her son.
It’s worth noting that this passage serves as an introduction to a larger narrative found in the following chapters of the book of Judges:It describes the rise of idolatry and the general moral decline of the Israelites during that time period. Judges 17-18:presents a story about a man named Micah who creates his own private shrine and appoints his own son as a priest, which goes against God’s commands.
Overall, Judges 17:2:serves as a reminder of the consequences of dishonesty and theft, as well as the importance of forgiveness and the potential for blessings even in difficult situations.
