17There was a man named Micah, who lived in the hill country of Ephraim.H376H2022H669H8034H4321 2One day he said to his mother, "I heard you place a curse on the person who stole 1,100 pieces of silver from you. Well, I have the money. I was the one who took it." "The LORD bless you for admitting it," his mother replied.H559H517H505H3967H3701H3947H422H559H241H3701H3947H517H559H1288H3068H1121 3He returned the money to her, and she said, "I now dedicate these silver coins to the LORD. In honor of my son, I will have an image carved and an idol cast."H7725H505H3967H3701H517H517H559H6942H6942H3701H3068H3027H1121H6213H6459H4541H7725 4So when he returned the money to his mother, she took 200 silver coins and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into an image and an idol. And these were placed in Micah's house.H7725H3701H517H517H3947H3967H3701H5414H6884H6213H6459H4541H1004H4321 5Micah set up a shrine for the idol, and he made a sacred ephod and some household idols. Then he installed one of his sons as his personal priest.H376H4318H1004H430H6213H646H8655H4390H3027H259H1121H3548 6In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.H3117H4428H3478H376H6213H3477H5869 7One day a young Levite, who had been living in Bethlehem in Judah, arrived in that area.H5288H1035H3063H4940H3063H3881H1481 8He had left Bethlehem in search of another place to live, and as he traveled, he came to the hill country of Ephraim. He happened to stop at Micah's house as he was traveling through.H376H3212H5892H1035H3063H1481H4672H935H2022H669H1004H4318H6213H1870 9"Where are you from?" Micah asked him. He replied, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am looking for a place to live."H4318H559H370H935H559H3881H1035H3063H1980H1481H4672 10"Stay here with me," Micah said, "and you can be a father and priest to me. I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, plus a change of clothes and your food."H4318H559H3427H1H3548H5414H6235H3701H3117H6187H899H4241H3881H3212 11The Levite agreed to this, and the young man became like one of Micah's sons.H3881H2974H3427H376H5288H259H1121 12So Micah installed the Levite as his personal priest, and he lived in Micah's house.H4318H4390H3027H3881H5288H3548H1004H4318 13"I know the LORD will bless me now," Micah said, "because I have a Levite serving as my priest."H559H4318H3045H3068H3190H3881H3548
18Now in those days Israel had no king. And the tribe of Dan was trying to find a place where they could settle, for they had not yet moved into the land assigned to them when the land was divided among the tribes of Israel.H3117H4428H3478H3117H7626H1839H1245H5159H3427H3117H5159H5307H8432H7626H3478 2So the men of Dan chose from their clans five capable warriors from the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol to scout out a land for them to settle in. When these warriors arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, they came to Micah's house and spent the night there.H1121H1835H7971H4940H2568H582H7098H1121H2428H6881H847H7270H776H2713H559H3212H2713H776H935H2022H669H1004H4318H3885 3While at Micah's house, they recognized the young Levite's accent, so they went over and asked him, "Who brought you here, and what are you doing in this place? Why are you here?"H1004H4318H5234H6963H5288H3881H5493H559H935H1988H6213 4He told them about his agreement with Micah and that he had been hired as Micah's personal priest.H559H2090H2090H6213H4318H7936H3548 5Then they said, "Ask God whether or not our journey will be successful."H559H7592H430H3045H1870H1980H6743 6"Go in peace," the priest replied. "For the LORD is watching over your journey."H3548H559H3212H7965H5227H3068H1870H3212 7So the five men went on to the town of Laish, where they noticed the people living carefree lives, like the Sidonians; they were peaceful and secure. The people were also wealthy because their land was very fertile. And they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby.H2568H582H3212H935H3919H7200H5971H7130H3427H983H4941H6722H8252H982H3423H6114H776H3637H1697H7350H6722H1697H120 8When the men returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What did you find?"H935H251H6881H847H251H559 9The men replied, "Come on, let's attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. What are you waiting for? Don't hesitate to go and take possession of it.H559H6965H5927H7200H776H3966H2896H2814H6101H3212H935H3423H776 10When you get there, you will find the people living carefree lives. God has given us a spacious and fertile land, lacking in nothing!"H935H935H5971H982H7342H776H430H5414H3027H4725H4270H1697H776 11So 600 men from the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.H5265H4940H1839H6881H847H8337H3967H376H2296H3627H4421 12They camped at a place west of Kiriath-jearim in Judah, which is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.H5927H2583H7157H3063H7121H4725H4265H3117H310H7157 13Then they went on from there into the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.H5674H2022H669H935H1004H4318 14The five men who had scouted out the land around Laish explained to the others, "These buildings contain a sacred ephod, as well as some household idols, a carved image, and a cast idol. What do you think you should do?"H6030H2568H582H1980H7270H776H3919H559H251H3045H3426H1004H646H8655H6459H4541H3045H6213 15Then the five men turned off the road and went over to Micah's house, where the young Levite lived, and greeted him kindly.H5493H935H1004H5288H3881H1004H4318H7592H7965 16As the 600 armed warriors from the tribe of Dan stood at the entrance of the gate,H8337H3967H376H2296H3627H4421H1121H1835H5324H6607H8179 17the five scouts entered the shrine and removed the carved image, the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the cast idol. Meanwhile, the priest was standing at the gate with the 600 armed warriors.H2568H582H1980H7270H776H5927H935H3947H6459H646H8655H4541H3548H5324H6607H8179H8337H3967H376H2296H3627H4421 18When the priest saw the men carrying all the sacred objects out of Micah's shrine, he said, "What are you doing?"H935H4318H1004H3947H6459H646H8655H4541H559H3548H6213 19"Be quiet and come with us," they said. "Be a father and priest to all of us. Isn't it better to be a priest for an entire tribe and clan of Israel than for the household of just one man?"H559H2790H7760H3027H6310H3212H1961H1H3548H2896H3548H1004H259H376H3548H7626H4940H3478 20The young priest was quite happy to go with them, so he took along the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the carved image.H3548H3820H3190H3947H646H8655H6459H935H7130H5971 21They turned and started on their way again, placing their children, livestock, and possessions in front of them.H6437H3212H7760H2945H4735H3520H6440 22When the people from the tribe of Dan were quite a distance from Micah's house, the people who lived near Micah came chasing after them.H7368H1004H4318H582H1004H4318H1004H2199H1692H1121H1835 23They were shouting as they caught up with them. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, "What's the matter? Why have you called these men together and chased after us like this?"H7121H1121H1835H5437H6440H559H4318H2199 24"What do you mean, 'What's the matter?'" Micah replied. "You've taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!"H559H3947H430H6213H3548H3212H559 25The men of Dan said, "Watch what you say! There are some short-tempered men around here who might get angry and kill you and your family."H1121H1835H559H6963H8085H4751H5315H582H6293H622H5315H5315H1004 26So the men of Dan continued on their way. When Micah saw that there were too many of them for him to attack, he turned around and went home.H1121H1835H3212H1870H4318H7200H2389H6437H7725H1004 27Then, with Micah's idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked with swords and burned the town to the ground.H3947H4318H6213H3548H935H3919H5971H8252H982H5221H6310H2719H8313H5892H784 28There was no one to rescue the people, for they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob. Then the people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt the town and lived there.H5337H7350H6721H1697H120H6010H1050H1129H5892H3427 29They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel's son, but it had originally been called Laish.H7121H8034H5892H1835H8034H1835H1H3205H3478H199H8034H5892H3919H7223 30Then they set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile.H1121H1835H6965H6459H3083H1121H1647H1121H4519H1121H3548H7626H1839H3117H1540H776 31So Micah's carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.H7760H4318H6459H6213H3117H1004H430H7887
19Now in those days Israel had no king. There was a man from the tribe of Levi living in a remote area of the hill country of Ephraim. One day he brought home a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine.H3117H4428H3478H376H3881H1481H3411H2022H669H3947H802H6370H1035H3063 2But she became angry with him and returned to her father's home in Bethlehem. After about four months,H6370H2181H3212H1H1004H1035H3063H702H2320H3117 3her husband set out for Bethlehem to speak personally to her and persuade her to come back. He took with him a servant and a pair of donkeys. When he arrived at her father's house, her father saw him and welcomed him.H376H6965H3212H310H1696H3820H7725H5288H6776H2543H935H1H1004H1H5291H7200H8055H7125 4Her father urged him to stay awhile, so he stayed three days, eating, drinking, and sleeping there.H2859H5291H1H2388H3427H7969H3117H398H8354H3885 5On the fourth day the man was up early, ready to leave, but the woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Have something to eat before you go."H7243H3117H7925H1242H6965H3212H5291H1H559H2860H5582H3820H6595H3899H310H3212 6So the two men sat down together and had something to eat and drink. Then the woman's father said, "Please stay another night and enjoy yourself."H3427H398H8354H8147H3162H5291H1H559H376H2974H3885H3820H3190 7The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law kept urging him to stay, so he finally gave in and stayed the night.H376H6965H3212H2859H6484H3885H7725 8On the morning of the fifth day he was up early again, ready to leave, and again the woman's father said, "Have something to eat; then you can leave later this afternoon." So they had another day of feasting.H7925H1242H2549H3117H3212H5291H1H559H5582H3824H4102H3117H5186H398H8147 9Later, as the man and his concubine and servant were preparing to leave, his father-in-law said, "Look, it's almost evening. Stay the night and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early and be on your way."H376H6965H3212H6370H5288H2859H5291H1H559H3117H7503H6150H3885H3117H2583H3885H3824H3190H4279H7925H1870H1980H168 10But this time the man was determined to leave. So he took his two saddled donkeys and his concubine and headed in the direction of Jebus (that is, Jerusalem).H376H14H3885H6965H3212H935H5227H2982H3389H6776H2543H2280H6370 11It was late in the day when they neared Jebus, and the man's servant said to him, "Let's stop at this Jebusite town and spend the night there."H2982H3117H3966H7286H5288H559H113H3212H5493H5892H2983H3885 12"No," his master said, "we can't stay in this foreign town where there are no Israelites. Instead, we will go on to Gibeah.H113H559H5493H5892H5237H1121H3478H5674H1390 13Come on, let's try to get as far as Gibeah or Ramah, and we'll spend the night in one of those towns."H559H5288H3212H7126H259H4725H3885H1390H7414 14So they went on. The sun was setting as they came to Gibeah, a town in the land of Benjamin,H5674H3212H8121H935H681H1390H1144 15so they stopped there to spend the night. They rested in the town square, but no one took them in for the night.H5493H935H3885H1390H935H3427H7339H5892H376H622H1004H3885 16That evening an old man came home from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah, where the people were from the tribe of Benjamin.H935H2205H376H4639H7704H6153H376H2022H669H1481H1390H582H4725H1145 17When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they were from and where they were going.H5375H5869H7200H732H376H7339H5892H2205H376H559H3212H370H935 18"We have been in Bethlehem in Judah," the man replied. "We are on our way to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim, which is my home. I traveled to Bethlehem, and now I'm returning home. But no one has taken us in for the night,H559H5674H1035H3063H3411H2022H669H3212H1035H3063H1980H1004H3068H376H622H1004 19even though we have everything we need. We have straw and feed for our donkeys and plenty of bread and wine for ourselves."H3426H8401H4554H2543H3899H3196H519H5288H5650H4270H1697 20"You are welcome to stay with me," the old man said. "I will give you anything you might need. But whatever you do, don't spend the night in the square."H2205H376H559H7965H7535H4270H3885H7339 21So he took them home with him and fed the donkeys. After they washed their feet, they ate and drank together.H935H1004H1101H2543H7364H7272H398H8354 22While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, "Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him."H3820H3190H582H5892H582H1121H1100H5437H1004H5437H1849H1817H559H1167H1004H2205H376H559H3318H376H935H1004H3045 23The old man stepped outside to talk to them. "No, my brothers, don't do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful.H376H1167H1004H3318H559H408H251H7489H310H376H935H1004H6213H5039 24Here, take my virgin daughter and this man's concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don't do such a shameful thing to this man."H1323H1330H6370H3318H6031H6213H5869H2896H376H6213H2063H5039H1697 25But they wouldn't listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go.H582H14H8085H376H2388H6370H3318H2351H3045H5953H3915H1242H7837H5927H7971 26At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light.H935H802H6437H1242H5307H6607H376H1004H113H216 27When her husband opened the door to leave, there lay his concubine with her hands on the threshold.H113H6965H1242H6605H1817H1004H3318H3212H1870H802H6370H5307H6607H1004H3027H5592 28He said, "Get up! Let's go!" But there was no answer. So he put her body on his donkey and took her home.H559H6965H3212H6030H376H3947H2543H376H6965H3212H4725 29When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine's body into twelve pieces. Then he sent one piece to each tribe throughout all the territory of Israel.H935H1004H3947H3979H2388H6370H5408H6106H8147H6240H5409H7971H1366H3478 30Everyone who saw it said, "Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who's going to speak up?"H1961H7200H559H2063H7200H3117H1121H3478H5927H776H4714H3117H7760H5779H1696
Dublin, OH
of silver from you. Well, I have the money. I was the one who took it." "The LORD bless you for admitting it," his mother replied.H559
