Judges 17:6 - Micah's Idolatry

Audio Bible

Context

Micah's Idolatry
…5Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest. 6In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 7And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah.…

Cross References

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.Deuteronomy 12:8
You are not to do as we are doing here today, where everyone does what seems right in his own eyes.Proverbs 21:2
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,Romans 10:3
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.1 Corinthians 6:12
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.1 Corinthians 10:23
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.Philippians 2:21
For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.2 Timothy 3:2-4
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, / traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,2 Peter 2:10
Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.Genesis 6:5
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

Judges 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.

Judges 19:1
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

Judges 21:3,25
And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel? …

right

Deuteronomy 12:8
Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

Psalm 12:4
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Jump to Previous

Jump to Next

Judges 17

In those days there was no king in Israel;
This phrase sets the historical context for the narrative. The period of the Judges was marked by a lack of centralized leadership in Israel. After the death of Joshua, Israel was led by judges, who were regional leaders rather than national rulers. This absence of a king is significant because it highlights the political and spiritual instability of the time. The Israelites were meant to be a theocracy, with God as their king, but they often failed to follow His commandments. This phrase foreshadows the eventual demand for a human king, as seen in 1 Samuel 8, when the Israelites ask Samuel to appoint a king to lead them like other nations.

everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
This phrase underscores the moral and spiritual chaos prevalent during the time of the Judges. Without a central authority or adherence to God's law, people acted according to their own subjective standards. This led to a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, as depicted throughout the Book of Judges. The phrase reflects the human tendency to stray from divine guidance when left to personal judgment, echoing the warning in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." This period of moral relativism contrasts with the biblical call for obedience to God's commandments, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:8, where the Israelites are instructed not to do what is right in their own eyes but to follow God's statutes.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Micah
A man from the hill country of Ephraim who creates a shrine and hires a Levite to be his priest, illustrating the spiritual confusion and idolatry prevalent in Israel during this time.

2. Ephraim
A region in Israel where Micah lived, representing the broader context of Israel's tribal society without centralized leadership.

3. Levite
A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who becomes a personal priest for Micah, highlighting the misuse of religious roles and the lack of adherence to God's law.

4. Israel
The nation of God's chosen people, who during this period, lacked a central authority and were often led astray by their own desires and interpretations of right and wrong.

5. Idolatry
The event of Micah creating a shrine and idols, which signifies the spiritual decline and moral relativism in Israel.

Teaching Points

The Danger of Moral Relativism
Without a standard of truth, society falls into chaos. Judges 17:6 illustrates the consequences of everyone doing what is right in their own eyes, leading to spiritual and moral decay.

The Need for Godly Leadership
The absence of a king in Israel points to the need for godly leadership. In our lives, we must seek guidance from God's Word and godly leaders to avoid spiritual confusion.

The Consequences of Idolatry
Micah's actions show how easily idolatry can infiltrate our lives when we stray from God's commands. We must guard our hearts against modern-day idols that can lead us away from God.

The Importance of Obedience to God's Law
The chaos in Israel serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to God's law. Obedience brings order and blessing, while disobedience leads to disorder and judgment.

(6) In those days there was no king.--This shows that these narratives were written, or more probably edited, in the days of the monarchy. (See Judges 18:1; Judges 19:1; Judges 21:25.)

Did that which was right in his own eyes.--The notice is added to show why there was no authoritative interference of prince or ruler to prevent idolatrous or lawless proceedings. (Deuteronomy 12:8 : "Ye shall not do after all the things which we do here this day, every man what is right in his own eyes.")

Verse 6. - There was no king. This must have been written in the days of the kings of Israel and Judah, and perhaps with reference to the efforts of such kings as Ass (1 Kings 15:13) and Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43) to put down idolatry. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

In those
הָהֵ֔ם (hā·hêm)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

days
בַּיָּמִ֣ים (bay·yā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

there was no
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

king
מֶ֖לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

in Israel;
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (bə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

everyone
אִ֛ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

did [what was]
יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

right
הַיָּשָׁ֥ר (hay·yā·šār)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

in his own eyes.
בְּעֵינָ֖יו (bə·‘ê·nāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

Links

Judges 17:6 NIV
Judges 17:6 NLT
Judges 17:6 ESV
Judges 17:6 NASB
Judges 17:6 KJVJudges 17:6 BibleApps.com
Judges 17:6 Biblia Paralela
Judges 17:6 Chinese Bible
Judges 17:6 French Bible
Judges 17:6 Catholic BibleOT History: Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king (Jd Judg. Jdg)