Read Judges 17 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
17:1-6 {p} Micah makes makes a shrine, an ephod, and household idols
17:7-13 {p} Micah hires a Levite to live with him and serve his household idols
Judges 17:1-13 Chiastic Structure:
Micah fell into the same trap that Gideon fell into, in making an image of an ephod as his personal access to YHVH (see Judges 8).
Now Micah had no authority to establish a house of God, or to consecrate priests to God, but every man did what was right in his own eyes. There was no consistent standard of righteousness, as there was under Moses and Joshua. The consistent standard was the book of the Law of Moses, which the rulers were not to forsake. It seems there was no judge in Israel following Samson’s death. However, in the absence of a ruler or judge, it should have been up to the elders to ensure the priests taught the Law of Moses to the people, so that a consistent standard of righteousness was maintained in society.
Moreoever, God commanded fathers to teach the Law of Moses to their children, to maintain that consistent standard of righteousness.
Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which YHVH your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear YHVH your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as YHVH God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ Hear, O Israel: YHVH our God, YHVH alone is God! You shall love YHVH your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deu 6:1-9
There occurred a breakdown of authority in every level of society, as neither fathers, local judges, elders, nor priests taught God’s Word written down in the Law of Moses diligently. This was their responsibility. Every authority has its responsibility as the reason for their authority in the first place. And following a breakdown of authority and the abdication of their responsibilities, is the breakdown of society, as we will see.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Our Necessary Food – Christine Miller
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