Judges 17:5-13 ▼

5 This man Micah had his own shrine, had crafted his own ephod and some household idols, and had installed one of his sons as a priest.

6 Back in those days, Israel didn't yet have a king, so each person did whatever seemed right in his own opinion.

7 A young male descendant of Levi happened to be visiting there from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah.

8 The man had left his city Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could. As he traveled along, he eventually arrived at Micah's house in the mountainous region of Ephraim, looking for work.

9 Micah asked him, |Where did you come from?| He replied, |I'm a descendant of Levi from Bethlehem in Judah, and I'm going to stay temporarily wherever I can find a place.|

10 So Micah replied, |Come live with me! You can be a spiritual father to me, as well as a priest. I'll pay you ten silver coins a year, plus a priestly uniform and an income.| So the descendant of Levi moved in.

11 The descendant of Levi agreed to live with the man, and the young man became like one of the family.

12 Micah set up the descendant of Levi in ministry, and the young man became his priest while he lived in Micah's house.

13 As for Micah, he kept saying, |Now I know the LORD will make me rich, because I have a descendant of Levi for a priest!|