“And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.”
In this verse, we encounter a narrative from the Book of Judges that describes the account of a man named Micah and his encounter with a Levite:To understand the context of this verse, let’s explore the surrounding passages.
In Judges 17, we learn about Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim. Micah confesses to his mother that he had taken 1,100 shekels of silver from her, and upon hearing his confession and her subsequent blessing, he returns the money. In an act of devotion, Micah’s mother dedicates the silver to the Lord, with the intention of making a carved image and a molten image.
Micah takes the silver and makes a shrine in his house, constructing an ephod and teraphim, which were objects of religious significance in that era. He appoints one of his sons as his personal priest, thereby establishing his own household worship center.
In verse 7, we encounter the Levite:mentioned in verse 9. The Levite was originally from Bethlehemjudah and had been dwelling in the hill country of Ephraim. Micah sees an opportunity to enhance the spiritual legitimacy of his shrine and offers the Levite a position as his priest, promising him ten shekels of silver per year, along with clothing and sustenance.
Verse 9:Micah questions the Levite about his origin, asking where he comes from. The Levite responds, identifying himself as a Levite from Bethlehemjudah. He further explains that he is seeking a place to sojourn, indicating that he is a wandering Levite without a permanent place of residence.
This verse reveals several significant aspects. First, it highlights the spiritual condition of the Israelites during the period of the judges. There was a lack of centralized worship and religious order, leading to the establishment of private shrines and personal priests. This situation deviated from the prescribed worship pattern set forth in the Mosaic Law, where the tribe of Levi was designated as the priestly class serving at the tabernacle or later, the temple.
Second, it underscores the Levite’s readiness to accept the offer to become Micah’s personal priest. This suggests a deviation from the Levitical responsibilities defined in the Law, as the Levites were intended to serve the entire community rather than a single household.
Lastly, this verse serves as a glimpse into the prevailing spiritual confusion and moral relativism during that era. The people of Israel were prone to engage in syncretism, blending elements of Yahweh worship with the worship of other gods and idols. This narrative emphasizes the need for a faithful adherence to God’s instructions and the dangers of deviating from them.
Overall, Judges 17:9 highlights the spiritual and moral decline of the Israelites during the time of the judges, revealing the consequences of a departure from God’s established order and the dangers of idolatry and syncretism.
