1 There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim whose name was Michas,
2 Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst swear in my hearing, behold I have, and they are with me. And she said to him: Blessed be my son by the Lord.
3 So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god, so now I deliver it to thee.
4 And he restored them to his mother: and she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a graven and a molten god, which was in the house of Michas.
5 And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and idols: and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.
7 There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there.
8 Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas,
9 He was asked by him whence he came. And he answered: I am a Levite of Bethlehem Juda, and I am going to dwell where I can, and where I shall find a place to my advantage.
10 And Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a double suit of apparel, and thy victuals.
11 He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons.
12 And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him, for his priest, saying:
13 Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites.
Versículos relacionados com Judges, 17:
Judges chapter 17 relates the story of a man named Mica who made himself an idol and a house of gods. He also hired a Levite to be his private priest. This story illustrates the lack of spiritual leadership at the time of the judges, when each one did what he thought is right in his own eyes.
Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way that man seems right, but by hand on the ways of death." This verse warns of the illusion of following our own wishes and desires, which can lead to disastrous consequences.
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust the Lord of all your heart, and do not stir in your own understanding. Recognizes him in all your ways, and he will straighten your paths." This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting God and seeking His will in our lives rather than following our own ways.
Jeremiah 10:14: "Every man is stupid, without knowledge; all goldsmith is embarrassed by the carved image; for his images are false, and in them there is no spirit." This verse condemns the worship of idols and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the true nature of God.
Acts 17:24-25: "The God who has made the world and all that there is, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by men; nor is it served by human hands, as if from any Thing needed; for he himself is the one who gives everyone life, breathing and everything; " This verse highlights God's transcendent nature and the uselessness of trying to limit it to physical objects or places.
Psalm 81:9: "Thou shalt not have other gods before me. Thou shalt not make the image of sculpture to thee, nor any resemblance of what is above in heaven, nor under the earth, nor in the waters under the earth." This verse is a reminder of the prohibition of the worship of idols and the importance of placing God first in our lives.
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