Judges 18:20

Translations

Modern

So the priest was glad and took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went with the people.

Traditional

And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

Literal

And the heart of the priest was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.

Latin

Quod cum audisset, acquievit sermonibus eorum, et tulit ephod, et idola, ac sculptile, et profectus est cum eis.

Original

Hebrew

English

So the priest was glad and took the ephod, the household idols, and the graven image, and went with the people.

Notes

Judges 18:20

The young priest accepted the offer. Ignoring his generous supporter, he helped steal Micah's valuable items. Micah's mother's blessing (Judges 17:3) was losing its value.

Judges 18:14–26

This dishonest exchange reveals the lack of integrity in everyone involved.

Judges 18:1–31

The migration of the Danites (compare Joshua 19:40–48) shows the tribe's failure to follow God's covenant and reflects Israel's decline. Micah's personal heresy (Judges 17:4–5) grew into the apostasy of the entire tribe (18:30–31). The initial covenant failure (Judges 17:19–36) led to social breakdown during the time of Jephthah and Samson (Judges 11–16). Eventually, law and order gave way to banditry and pillaging (Judges 18:27–28).

Judges 17:1–21:25

These two epilogues (Judges 17–18 and 19–21) show that inspired but unstructured leadership cannot last. As society moved toward chaos and civil war, the phrase, In those days there was no king in Israel appears four times. The phrase, everyone did what was right in his own eyes is added twice (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The era of inspired leadership declined and ended in disorder. Something important was missing.

Theme notes and profiles

Social Chaos in Judges

Related verses

Isaiah 56:11
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
2 Peter 2:3
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
Proverbs 30:15
The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
Judges 17:10
“Stay with me,” Micah said to him, “and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your provisions.” So the Levite went in
Ezekiel 13:19
You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.
Acts 20:33
I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
Philippians 3:19
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
Hosea 4:3
Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.
2 Peter 2:15–16
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Ephod (Garment) Eshtaol Idols, Idolatry Jeroboam Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Laish (Place) Micah (Person) Numbers and Numerology Priests and Levites Teraphim Travel Tribe of Dan

Topics

Dishonesty: Micah's Priest Steals his Images Jonathan: A Levite of Bethlehem, Who Becomes a Priest for Micah Teraphim used by Micah, Stolen by the Danites the Tribe of Dan: A Part of Plundered Michah of his Idols and his Ephod Theft and Thieves: The Spies of Laish

Judges 18:20

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