And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name [was] Micah. Ver. 1. _And there was a man._] The Vulgate hath it, And at that time there was a man, &c. And some Rabbins say that this fell out soon after Samson's death. But they do better who place this story and the rest that follow, to the end of... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [shekels] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver [is] with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed [be thou] of the LORD, my son. Ver. 2. _And he said unto his mother._]... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had restored the eleven hundred [shekels] of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. Ver. 3. _And when he had restored._] Restore... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred [shekels] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. Ver. 4. _Yet he restored the money unto his mother._] And so disburdened his conscie... [ Continue Reading ]
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. Ver. 5. _And the man Micah had an house of gods._] _Aediculam sacram._ The devil is ειδωλοχαρης, saith Synesius, a great promoter of idolatry. His champion Julian was by... [ Continue Reading ]
In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes. Ver. 6. _In those days there was no king in Israel,_] _i.e., _ No ordinary supreme magistrate: hence this idolatry and the following outrages. Of the two, tyranny or ochlocraty, that rule of ras... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who [was] a Levite, and he sojourned there. Ver. 7. _And there was a young man._] _Puer:_ so he is called _ratione ministerii_ Exo 33:11 saith Junius. And why not for his folly? as Genesis 34:19. _Neque distulit puer?_ A novice... [ Continue Reading ]
And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find [a place]: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. Ver. 8. _To sojourn where he could find a place._] By the iniquity of the times, he was put to his shifts, and forced to seek a sub... [ Continue Reading ]
_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]._ Ver. 9. _Whence comest thou?_] He should have asked him more questions than this, ere he had agreed with him: as, Can you preach? can you produce a... [ Continue Reading ]
And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [shekels] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. Ver. 10. _Be unto me a father and a priest,_] As a father he would respect him, though but a young... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons._ Ver. 11. _Was unto him as one of his sons._] For good usage, good will, and good cheap titles, it was better with this Levite than with him in Plautus, who said, - and so may many ministers now-a-... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah._ Ver. 12. _And Micah consecrated the Levite._] Which none might lawfully do but the high priest. See how one sin draweth on another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to [my] priest. Ver. 13. _Now know I that the Lord._] In his blind devotion he promiseth himself prosperity: so do Papists in their priests' absolution, Pope's pardon. But it happened otherwise with Micah; Jdg 18:18-2... [ Continue Reading ]