Chapter 17 4 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.5 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.6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.8 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.9 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.10 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.11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
Chapter 18 1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.