Judges 17-18: Micah and the Levite

Judges 17: Micah and the Levite
Judges 18: The Migration of Dan / The Danites Settle in Laish

After Joshua and before the Kings, Israel apparently did pretty much whatever it wanted with regards to worship, even though they have received strict commandments about proper practice. So why isn't the biblical author more critical of their practices? That is the question to consider today throughout the reading.

Micah and the Levite: Judges 17
The story of Micah, which serves as an introduction to the Danites apostasy, begins at the very end of a story. It is as though we came in exceptionally late to a movie and are at the point where all the plotlines converge.

There is a man in Ephraim whose name is Micah. He tells his mother that the eleven hundred pieces of silver she was looking for - well, he actually took that. But now he will return it. The mother plans to do something strange with it: "I consecrate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make an idol of cast metal." There are two problems with this statement. One, consecrated silver should go to the Levites as an offering to the Lord. Two, Israelite law strictly prohibits any portrayal of any god - even the God of Israel. It gets worse: Micah has a shrine, and makes an ephod and teraphim, and installs one of his sons as a priest. This parody of the Lord's servants is definitely not kosher. But, as the author explains: "In those days there was no ing in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes." Wait a minute - a king? Oh yes. Kings are fast approaching. But for now let's continue with judges.

The story shifts to a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. He journeys out to find a place and winds up living with Micah, who gives him ten pieces of silver a year, clothing, and living expenses in exchange for the man serving as priest and being "a father" for Micah. (The father part was foreshadowed by the fact that Micah stole money from his mother, not his father.

So we have Micah worshipping the Lord improperly with the help of a priest! And despite this (and not knowing any better) Micah says, "Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because the Levite has become my priest."

The Migration of Dan: Judges 18.1-26
The biblical author reminds us as a prelude to the story that "In those days there was no king in Israel." And since no territory was allotted to the Danites, they are searching for a place to live. The Danites send five spies to scope out the land, and they somehow wind up at Micah's house. They recognize the Levite staying there, and ask him about how he came to be there, and whether their mission will be successful. The priest tells his story and assures them that their mission "is under the eye of the Lord." This fact is a bit unsettling, considering what comes later.

The spies travel to Laish, where they see people living in peace, quiet and unsuspecting and wealthy. Furthermore, they are far away from anyone who might come to their aid in battle. Upon returning the spies urge the Danites to take the good land quickly.

Six hundred Danite men head out for Laish and (surprise, surprise!) end up at Micah's Roadhouse^TM. The spies tell the other soldiers of the shrine in Micah's house, and the army decides to pay a visit. As 600 men armed for battle stand outside the house, the five spies go into Micah's house to steal all the paraphernalia of worship. They then convince the priest to come with them (and in the same words as Micah, serve as both father and priest) with some simple logic: "Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one person, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?" Well, you can't argue with that - even though he is improperly practicing service to the Lord.

The Danites expect an attack from Micah, as when they head out they put the little ones, livestock, and goods in the front. Indeed, Micah comes with all his neighbors to overtake the Danites. The Danites ask what is the matter and Micah responds to the effect that they robbed him of the god he created. The Danites respond to the effect that he should pipe down lest some hot-tempered fellows attack him. Seeing that the army is too strong, Micah does not attacjk

The Danites Settle in Laish: Judges 18.27-31
The army travels on to Laish, which they conquer and rebuild to live in. There they set up the idol and a priesthood to maintain it. And now you know (as did the ancient audience this was intended for) why the Danites had such weird worship practices - like apostasy.