Judges 18:4

Translations

Modern

“Micah has done this and that for me,” he replied, “and he has hired me to be his priest.”

Traditional

And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

Literal

And he said to them, “This and like this Micah has done for me. And he has hired me, and I have become unto him priest.”

Latin

Qui respondit eis: Hæc et hæc præstitit mihi Michas, et me mercede conduxit, ut sim ei sacerdos.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Micah has done this and that for me,” he replied, “and he has hired me to be his priest.”

Notes

Judges 18:3–4

The Danites either recognized the young Levite's accent (voice), which was from the region of Judah (Judges 17:7), or they knew him personally. Their questions were not just about his credentials; they also sought some divine guidance (Judges 18:5). His reply (Judges 18:6) showed he was willing to be a mercenary priest.

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

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
Judges 17:12
Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house.
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.
John 10:12–13
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
Titus 1:11
…who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.
Proverbs 28:21
To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
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.
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:
Acts 20:33
I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
Malachi 1:10
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
2 Peter 2:14–15
Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
1 Timothy 3:3
…not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

People

Micah: A man from Ephraim who set up idolatrous worship

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Eshtaol Idols, Idolatry Jeroboam Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Micah (Person) Priests and Levites Travel Tribe of Dan Zorah, Zorathite

Topics

Armies: March in Ranks of Laish Christian Minister: Hired Jonathan: A Levite of Bethlehem, Who Becomes a Priest for Micah Reconnoissance: Laish

Judges 18:4

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