The Holy Bible – Knox Translation
The Book of Judges
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Chapter 17
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
1
Now turn we to a man called Michas, who lived at this same time in the hill-country of Ephraim.
2
His mother had lost eleven hundred silver pieces, which she had set aside; and when, in his presence, she pronounced a curse on the thief, he told her, I have the money, I took it for myself. No curse, then, said she, but a blessing from the Lord on this son of mine.
3
And she told him, as he gave it back to her, I solemnly dedicate this sum of money to the Lord, promising him that my son shall have it from me, to make himself a graven image, with a sheath of cast metal. So now after all it is thine.
4
Then she took out two hundred of the pieces so restored, and gave them to a silversmith, to be melted down into the sheath of a carved image; and there the image stood, in the house of Michas.
5
He set apart a shrine for the worship of God, furnished it with vestments and household deities and installed one of his sons as the priest of it.
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(This was in the old days of Israel before the monarchy, when men lived by the best light they had.)

7
But the lad was to have a rival, a young man from Bethlehem-Juda, ranking as one of Juda’s clan, but himself a Levite, come from other parts.
8
And now he would leave Bethlehem and go on his travels to find a home that suited him. His journey took him to the hill-country of Ephraim, and there, for a while, he lodged at Michas’ house.
9
When he was asked whence he came, and told them he was a Levite from Bethlehem-Juda, looking for a home that suited him,
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Why, said Michas, live here with me, and I will honour thee like a father and a priest. Ten silver pieces thou shalt have each year, and a fresh suit of clothes, and thy livelihood.
11
To this he agreed, and dwelt there with him, as well cared for as if he had been one of his sons;
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and Michas, when he installed the young man as priest in his household,
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flattered himself that God’s blessing would be with him, now that he had a priest by him of the Levite family.