March 14, 2025
The Problem with Idolatry
Judges 16-18
Elizabeth Peveto
Big Book Idea
The people do what's right in their own eyes. And it doesn't go well.
Key Verse | Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 16-18
Chapter 16
Samson and Delilah
1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.
4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”
7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” 11 And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. 1 16:14 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and fasten it tight into the web And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.
15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
The Death of Samson
23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” 2 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.
28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.
Chapter 17
Micah and the Levite
1 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” 4 So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained 3 17:5 Hebrew filled the hand of; also verse 12 one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
7 Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. 9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.” 10 And Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.” And the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. 12 And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.”
Chapter 18
Danites Take the Levite and the Idol
1 In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. 2 So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3 When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” 4 And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” 5 And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” 6 And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD.”
7 Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking 4 18:7 Compare 18:10; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain nothing that is in the earth and possessing wealth, and how they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. 8 And when they came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, “What do you report?” 9 They said, “Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land. 10 As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”
11 So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol, 12 and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan 5 18:12 Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim. 13 And they passed on from there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14 Then the five men who had gone to scout out the country of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image? Now therefore consider what you will do.” 15 And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him about his welfare. 16 Now the 600 men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 And the five men who had gone to scout out the land went up and entered and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the 600 men armed with weapons of war. 18 And when these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19 And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” 20 And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.
21 So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them. 22 When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. 23 And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?” 24 And he said, “You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, ‘What is the matter with you?’” 25 And the people of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household.” 26 Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.
27 But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it. 29 And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first. 30 And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, 6 18:30 Or Manasseh and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.
Footnotes
[1] 16:14 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and fasten it tight . . . into the web[2] 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain
[3] 17:5 Hebrew filled the hand of; also verse 12
[4] 18:7 Compare 18:10; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
[5] 18:12 Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan
[6] 18:30 Or Manasseh
Table of Contents
Introduction to Judges
Timeline
Author and Date
Nowhere in Scripture is an author of this book named. The events in Judges took place in the period between Joshua’s death and the rise of Samuel and Saul. Most of the book was likely written by David’s time (1010–970 B.C.).
Theme
The theme of Judges is the downward spiral of Israel’s national and spiritual life into chaos and rebellion against God, showing the need for a godly king (17:6; 21:25).
Purpose and Pattern
The book of Judges was written to show the consequences of religious unfaithfulness and to point the way to a king who, if righteous, would lead the people to God. In the book of Joshua, the people of Israel seemed to want to follow the Lord and obey his commands. The book of Judges reveals, however, that the people had been rebelling even in Joshua’s time. This disobedience continued and grew more serious throughout the period of the judges. As summarized in Judges 2:16–23, time and again Israel turned its back on God and embraced the gods and ways of the Canaanites. Israel’s history unfolds in a repetitive way, with each cycle taking Israel further away from God. By the end of the book, Israel had violated its covenant with God in almost every way imaginable.
Key Themes
- Israel’s existence in the land, which had been promised by God, was threatened by its continuing rebellion. Israel had not conquered the land completely (ch. 1), because of its unfaithfulness (2:1–3, 20–22). Therefore, the day would come when the nation would be taken captive, away from the land (18:30).
- The oppressions, chaos, and generally negative picture in the book are due to Israel’s repeated sin. Time and again the Israelites broke the covenant, turning to the Canaanite gods and “doing evil” (2:3, 11–13, 17, 19; 3:6, 7, 12; 4:1; 6:1, 10; 8:24–27, 33; 10:6; 13:1; 17:6; 21:25), and they repeatedly suffered the consequences.
- Despite Israel’s repeated falling away, God in his faithfulness continually delivered them. This was not due to Israel’s merits or its repentance. Instead it was because of God’s compassion and pity (2:16, 18) and his faithfulness to his promises to Abraham (Deut. 6:10–11; compare Gen. 12:7; 15:7, 18–21; 26:2–3; 35:12).
- The judges were not able to stop the peoples’ unfaithfulness. If anything, they made it worse. Major judges such as Gideon (8:24–27), Jephthah (11:30–31, 34–40), and Samson (chs. 14–16) were guilty of significant sin. The shining exception was Deborah (chs. 4–5).
- Israel needed a godly king to lead it in doing right in the Lord’s eyes rather than a leader who “did what was right in his own eyes” (compare 17:6; 21:25). God had promised from the beginning that there would be kings (Gen. 17:6, 16; 35:11; 49:10), and had explained what a godly king would look like (Deut. 17:14–20). The book of Judges shows the depths to which the people of Israel descended in the absence of a godly king.
Outline
- The Roots of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (1:1–3:6)
- The Downward Spiral of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (3:7–16:31)
- The Depths of Israel’s Unfaithfulness (17:1–21:25)
The Setting of Judges
Fact: City gates
City gates in Bible times were often very elaborate. Many of them were two stories high or even higher. The actual opening would be narrow, with guardrooms on each side. The gateposts were anchored deep in the ground to support the doors. City gates would often have multiple doors and entrances as well as sharp turns. These were designed to slow down enemies if they tried to get through the gate. They were also the place where business transactions and judicial decisions were made.
Fact: Blinding a prisoner
Blinding a prisoner and forcing him to grind grain at a mill (16:21) was a common form of punishment in the ancient Near East. This is one more example of how the Bible presents an accurate record of the events of its day.
Fact: Laish
Laish was about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee. The Danites would have traveled about a hundred miles (161 km) to reach the city (18:7). After they invaded and destroyed Laish, the city was renamed Dan (18:29). For many years thereafter, this city would be considered the northern border of Israel. The nation was often described as extending “from Dan to Beersheba” (20:1).
Samson’s Exploits
The Philistines ruled over Israel during Samson’s lifetime, and Samson was raised up by God to begin to deliver Israel from them. Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman in Timnah led to a number of encounters with the Philistines, often resulting in their harm at Samson’s hand.
The Judges
| Judge | Reference | Tribe | Oppressor | Period of Oppression | Period of Rest | Total Length of Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Othniel | 3:7–11 | Judah | Mesopotamians | 8 years (3:8) | 40 years (3:11) | 48 years |
| Ehud | 3:12–30 | Benjamin | Moabites | 18 years (3:14) | 80 years (3:30) | 98 years |
| Shamgar | 3:31 | Philistines | ||||
| Deborah | chs. 4–5 | Ephraim | Canaanites | 20 years (4:3) | 40 years (5:31) | 60 years |
| Gideon | chs. 6–8 | Manasseh | Midianites | 7 years (6:1) | 40 years (8:28) | 47 years |
| Tola | 10:1–2 | Issachar | 23 years (10:2) | 23 years | ||
| Jair | 10:3–5 | Gilead-Manasseh | 22 years (10:3) | 22 years | ||
| Jephthah | 10:6–12:7 | Gilead-Manasseh | Ammonites | 24 years (10:8; 12:7) | 24 years | |
| Ibzan | 12:8–10 | Judah or Zebulun? | 7 years (12:9) | 7 years | ||
| Elon | 12:11–12 | Zebulun | 10 years (12:11) | 10 years | ||
| Abdon | 12:13–15 | Ephraim | 8 years (12:14) | 8 years | ||
| Samson | chs. 13–16 | Dan | Philistines | 40 years (13:1) | 20 years (15:20; 16:31) | 60 years |
*Added together, the dates in this column total about 410 years. However, many of the episodes in Judges overlap each other, unfolding in different parts of the land.
Samson’s Ten Feats of Strength and Heroism
| Part 1: Three mentions of the “Spirit of the LORD” | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. The killing of the lion | 14:5–9 | “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” (14:6). |
| 2. The killing of 30 Philistines | 14:19 | “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” (14:19). |
| 3. The burning of the fields | 15:4–6 | |
| 4. Another slaughter of the Philistines | 15:7–8 | |
| 5. Escape from ropes and killing of 1,000 Philistines | 15:14–17 | “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” (15:14). |
| Part 2: No mention of the “Spirit of the LORD” | ||
| 6. The Gaza-gate incident | 16:3 | |
| 7. Escape from the bowstrings | 16:9 | |
| 8. Escape from the new ropes | 16:12 | |
| 9. Escape from the loom | 16:14 | |
| 10. Final destruction of 3,000 Philistines | 16:28–30 |
Samson
Samson was the twelfth and final judge of Israel. God raised him up to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Possessing great strength, he often battled the Philistines single-handedly. Samson was a life-long Nazirite, but he broke every one of his vows. He made particularly bad decisions regarding his relationships with women. This is most evident in his relationship with Delilah, to whom he revealed the secret of his strength. Paid by the Philistines to seduce Samson, Delilah cut off his hair while he slept. He was attacked and blinded by a group of Philistines lying in wait, and taken as their prisoner. His final feat of strength was to bring down a Philistine temple, killing about 3,000 Philistines along with himself. Despite Samson’s sinful life and continued unfaithfulness, God used him to save Israel. (Judges 15:14–17)
Judg 16:1 prostitute. Hebrew has two words for prostitutes. One refers to prostitutes associated with pagan worship (Gen. 38:21–22; Deut. 23:17; 1 Kings 14:24). The other (used here) signifies prostitution with no such religious connection (compare Gen. 38:15).
Fact: City gates
City gates in Bible times were often very elaborate. Many of them were two stories high or even higher. The actual opening would be narrow, with guardrooms on each side. The gateposts were anchored deep in the ground to support the doors. City gates would often have multiple doors and entrances as well as sharp turns. These were designed to slow down enemies if they tried to get through the gate. They were also the place where business transactions and judicial decisions were made.
Judg 16:2–3 at the gate. Gates from the Early Iron Age were elaborate complexes, at least two stories high, with guardrooms on each side of a narrow opening. The two posts were set deep in the ground to support the doors.
Judg 16:4–5 Delilah was the third Philistine woman with whom Samson had a relationship (see 14:1; 16:1).
Judg 16:7–9 In the first test of Samson’s strength, the seven fresh bowstrings, made of animal gut, were weaker than dried and aged strings.
Judg 16:11 new ropes. In the second test, Samson toyed with the Philistines, suggesting that they use the same bonds that the men of Judah had previously found to be worthless (see 15:13).
Judg 16:13–14 Made them tight with the pin translates the same Hebrew phrase that was used when Jael drove a tent peg into Sisera’s head (4:21). The exact situation here is unclear, but Samson obviously had no trouble escaping once more.
Judg 16:16 she pressed him. Delilah did precisely what Samson’s wife had done earlier (14:17). Samson’s weak character shows through again. He did not learn from his previous mistake, but revealed the information in both cases.
Judg 16:18 told her all his heart. Delilah knew that Samson was finally telling the truth.
Judg 16:20–21 the LORD had left him. Samson broke the final Nazirite stipulation when his hair was cut. The power the Lord had given him was now gone (see note on 14:6) and he was captured.
Fact: Blinding a prisoner
Blinding a prisoner and forcing him to grind grain at a mill (16:21) was a common form of punishment in the ancient Near East. This is one more example of how the Bible presents an accurate record of the events of its day.
Judg 16:22 the hair of his head began to grow again. There was no magical power in Samson’s hair, for his strength came only from the Lord (14:6, 19; 15:14; 16:20). But the growth of his hair indicates that God was renewing his previous power (compare vv. 17, 19–20). Samson may also have begun to renew his faith (see v. 28).
Judg 16:28–30 Samson demonstrated faith by calling upon God and believing that God would help him (see Heb. 11:32–34). However, Samson seems to have desired God’s help more for personal revenge than for the protection of God’s people. two middle pillars. A Philistine temple discovered from the period of the judges had two central pillars to support the roof of the entire structure. Canaanite and Israelite temples did not use that design.
Samson’s Ten Feats of Strength and Heroism
| Part 1: Three mentions of the “Spirit of the LORD” | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. The killing of the lion | 14:5–9 | “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” (14:6). |
| 2. The killing of 30 Philistines | 14:19 | “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” (14:19). |
| 3. The burning of the fields | 15:4–6 | |
| 4. Another slaughter of the Philistines | 15:7–8 | |
| 5. Escape from ropes and killing of 1,000 Philistines | 15:14–17 | “The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” (15:14). |
| Part 2: No mention of the “Spirit of the LORD” | ||
| 6. The Gaza-gate incident | 16:3 | |
| 7. Escape from the bowstrings | 16:9 | |
| 8. Escape from the new ropes | 16:12 | |
| 9. Escape from the loom | 16:14 | |
| 10. Final destruction of 3,000 Philistines | 16:28–30 |
Judg 3:7–16:31 The Downward Spiral of Israel’s Unfaithfulness. The main part of the book of Judges shows how Israel fell increasingly into sin. It includes the stories of 12 judges raised up to deliver Israel from successive crises brought on by its unfaithfulness.
Judg 13:1–16:31 Samson was the twelfth and last judge. He lived around the beginning of the eleventh century B.C., about 50 years before Saul became king. His physical strength was unparalleled. Rather than lead an army, he battled the Philistines by himself. He was, however, a deeply flawed hero. While God used him to deliver the Israelites, and while he even called upon God on occasion to help him (15:18; 16:28, 30), his life was one of continued unfaithfulness, just like the nation he judged.
Judg 16:31 The main body of the book of Judges now ends. Despite the generally ungodly character of the judges themselves, God had worked to deliver Israel and to protect his own name and reputation.
Samson’s Exploits
The Philistines ruled over Israel during Samson’s lifetime, and Samson was raised up by God to begin to deliver Israel from them. Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman in Timnah led to a number of encounters with the Philistines, often resulting in their harm at Samson’s hand.
Samson
Samson was the twelfth and final judge of Israel. God raised him up to deliver Israel from the Philistines. Possessing great strength, he often battled the Philistines single-handedly. Samson was a life-long Nazirite, but he broke every one of his vows. He made particularly bad decisions regarding his relationships with women. This is most evident in his relationship with Delilah, to whom he revealed the secret of his strength. Paid by the Philistines to seduce Samson, Delilah cut off his hair while he slept. He was attacked and blinded by a group of Philistines lying in wait, and taken as their prisoner. His final feat of strength was to bring down a Philistine temple, killing about 3,000 Philistines along with himself. Despite Samson’s sinful life and continued unfaithfulness, God used him to save Israel. (Judges 15:14–17)
Judg 17:3–4 a carved image. (See Ex. 20:4.) These were normally carved from wood or chiseled out of rock but sometimes were made from a mold (compare Isa. 40:19). a metal image. Compare 2 Kings 17:16. Micah’s mother approved of his making these images. This shows how God’s people sometimes are tempted to mix elements of true worship with practices unacceptable to God. It is another consequence of Israel’s lack of good leadership. The house of Micah was a group of housing units for travelers and relatives (see Judg. 18:2).
Judg 17:5 a shrine. Literally, “a house of God.” This was a perversion of the true sanctuary where worship was to take place (compare “the house of God” at Shiloh in 18:31). Micah also made an ephod (compare 8:27) and various household gods (compare Gen. 31:19); these are later condemned as idolatry (1 Sam. 15:23). Micah further violated the Mosaic law by appointing his own son as his private priest, an office meant for serving all of Israel. Furthermore, Micah’s son was not descended from Aaron (as the priests were supposed to be), nor was he even a Levite (see Ex. 28:1; Num. 16:39–40; 17:8).
Judg 17:6 no king in Israel. Compare 18:1; 19:1; 21:25. right in his own eyes (see 21:25). In the nation’s rebellion, people were doing whatever they wanted, rather than seeking the Lord (see 14:3).
Judg 17:9 Levite of Bethlehem. This Levite had been living as a sojourner, a resident alien, in Judah. The Levites did not have their own tribal territory, but they had 48 cities scattered among the other tribes (Joshua 21). However, Bethlehem was not one of those designated cities, and this Levite was only too happy to settle in Micah’s household as his private priest, displacing Micah’s son (Judg. 17:10–11; see note on v. 5).
Judg 18:1 no king in Israel. Compare 17:6; 19:1; 21:25. Dan was seeking . . . an inheritance. The Danites had been unable to settle in their allotted territory (Josh. 19:40–47) because they had failed to capture it (Judg. 1:34–35).
Judg 18:2–4 Zorah . . . Eshtaol. These towns were in the Judean lowlands approximately 15 miles (24 km) west of Jerusalem.
Judg 18:5–6 Considering the highly negative tone of chs. 17–21 and future events in this particular narrative (18:30), it is difficult to take seriously the spies’ desire to inquire of God concerning their journey. The statement under the eye of the LORD suggests that the priest’s response was vague. It does not mean that God approved of what the Danites were going to do.
Judg 18:7 Laish was about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee, making the Danites’ trip from Zorah and Eshtaol to Laish about a hundred miles (161 km). Laish was renamed Dan (v. 29; see note on 20:1–2).
Fact: Laish
Laish was about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee. The Danites would have traveled about a hundred miles (161 km) to reach the city (18:7). After they invaded and destroyed Laish, the city was renamed Dan (18:29). For many years thereafter, this city would be considered the northern border of Israel. The nation was often described as extending “from Dan to Beersheba” (20:1).
Judg 18:12 Kiriath-jearim, a chief city of the Gibeonites (Josh. 9:17), was approximately 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Jerusalem. Its precise location is debated.
Judg 18:14–20 ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a metal image (v. 14). Rather than condemning Micah’s collection of pagan religious objects (see 17:3–5), the Danites took them for themselves. a father and a priest. The Danites’ offer of more money and prestige, and the Levite’s acceptance, further show the period’s rebellion. Their stealing from another tribe (18:18, 21) fulfills Jacob’s prediction that Dan would deal viciously with others (Gen. 49:17).
Judg 18:21 As the Danites fled, they placed what they had stolen in front of them, with the warriors behind, as protection against pursuit from Micah’s household or neighbors.
Fact: Laish
Laish was about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Sea of Galilee. The Danites would have traveled about a hundred miles (161 km) to reach the city (18:7). After they invaded and destroyed Laish, the city was renamed Dan (18:29). For many years thereafter, this city would be considered the northern border of Israel. The nation was often described as extending “from Dan to Beersheba” (20:1).
Judg 18:30–31 The Levite’s name is revealed (Jonathan), as well as his lineage. Even those in the family of Moses are rebelling against God. Captivity of the land could refer to the Babylonian captivity (587 B.C.). Or, since Dan is in the north, it could refer to the Assyrian captivity of 722 (or even earlier, when Dan passed into Assyrian control). In any case, the Danites’ priest and his descendants served in that role for centuries, and only the fall of the nation ended the arrangement. Shiloh was destroyed at the end of the period of the judges, c. 1050 B.C. (see Ps. 78:60; Jer. 7:12, 14).
How do we think about the death of Samson and the 3,000 who died in his wake?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Judges 16-18
Oh, Micah, how you miss it! But just as realistically, how much we miss it!
Micah's idols were conceived from the sin of him stealing from his mother. Our idols of success, comfort, children, and fitness are conceived from pride, sloth, selfishness, and vanity.
Micah's doing what he thought was good—having a Levite as a priest—was based in half-truths and a poor understanding of God's heart.
Our striving for quiet times, church attendance, and Christian activities can be empty of the love of God and the relationship He beckons us toward. We can hold up these poor trophies that we think will make us pleasing to God and lose sight that we have broken His first command.
The darkest verse in this passage is likely Judges 17:6, "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." This probably isn't too jarring to us, for in today's culture it is a persistent echo in our ears to "live your truth" or "do what you think is right." But how tragic it is to do what we think is right in our own sin-filled and wicked eyes, clouded by our personal idols and a culture that hates Yahweh.
The cultural preferences we uncritically accept place us on a slow, downward slide away from the only One who has ever fully known and loved us.
We have a loving Heavenly Father who—even when generation after generation chose Him second (at best), manipulated His commands to serve themselves, and caused others to follow a path away from Him—still never wavered from His rescue plan and sent His Son to die for our every transgression.
We have a beautiful Savior who continually beckons us to turn toward Him, to sit at His feet, and to bask in His goodness.
We have a powerful Holy Spirit who emboldens us in this world to abide in Christ and to turn from the idols in our hearts.
As the world gets darker, let us turn from the idols that block more light and rejoice in the only One who can properly and fully receive our worship.
This month's memory verse
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
– 1 Samuel 16:7
Discussion Questions
1. What are the idols in my life?
2. Why are these things idols in my life? What sin is the root cause?
3. How am I most like Micah? Is there any way that I take a part of God's Word or commandment and manipulate it for my benefit or preference?
4. How have my affections for God been stirred to allow me to remember He is worthy of all my worship?
5. Based on how God has designed me, what forms of worship tune my heart to God the most?