1. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth …

2. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth When The Judges Ruled Israel

3. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The last 5 chapters contain supplemental information corresponding to the previous 12 stories  They are in the form of “appendices”  The events they record are not to be viewed in chronological order with the book

4. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The last 5 chapters contain supplemental information corresponding to the previous 12 stories  In fact, there are “hints” these events occur very early in the time period…perhaps not long after Joshua’s death 18:1 20:28

5. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  This “appendix” may be the initial incident of idolatry…perhaps that found in 2:11-13  It combines the stories of an Ephraimite named Micah with Dan’s northern migration  It focuses on idolatry, deterioration of true worship, an unlawful priesthood, etc. Familiar indicators of weak spiritual conditions found in Israel

6. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  A man from Ephraim v. 1  Previously, his mother had 1,100 pieces of silver stolen…she had pronounced a curse upon the guilty party v. 2a  He confesses to her he was the thief v. 2a

7. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  Now, his mother pronounces a blessing on her son v. 2b  To show “gratitude” she “wholly dedicates the silver to the Lord for her son to make a graven image…” v. 3 Deut 27:15

8. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  The images are made and Micah sets them up in his house v. 4  Micah expands his “religious shrine”… he fashions an ephod, has other idols made, and establishes his son as priest v. 5

9. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  These verses continue the “theme” depicted throughout the book…the pitiful spiritual conditions in Israel in these days  Everything in the story so far indicates both Micah & his mother’s complete disregard for the true worship of Jehovah Ex 20:4-6

10. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  The author offers a reason for all this “idolatrous cancer”…there was no king in Israel, and every man did what was right in his own eyes v. 6

11. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  The story so far sounds very “modern”  When men abandon an objective standard, what results = “religious potpourri”  Anything goes…one activity is as good as any other [Modern-day denominationalism]

12. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  A young Levite from Bethlehem Judah travels in Ephraim…meets Micah vv. 7-8  Upon learning the young man’s identity, Micah offers him “employment” to be his priest…the young man accepts vv. 9-10

13. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  Perhaps Micah thought having a Levite as priest would bring legitimacy to his shrine  There is no indication the young Levite was from the family of Aaron  Both Micah & the young Levite bore guilt in engaging in improper worship

14. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  The young Levite was either ignorant of the Law re: the priesthood & worship, or he knew better and willingly disobeyed for the sake of monetary gain

15. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  For Micah, religion was a “private matter”… he invented his entire system of worship  Similarly, modern-day man thinks as long as he is sincere and has a smattering of truth involved somewhere, strict compliance in every detail is not that important

16. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of Micah 17:1-13  The young Levite became as dear to Micah as one of his sons vv. 11-12  Micah was convinced the Lord would bless him because he had arranged for a Levite to be his priest v. 13

17. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  The absence of a king is repeated v. 1a  The tribe of Dan sought for an inheritance, “…for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel” v. 1b

18. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  One might form the wrong conclusion…a failure on the part of Joshua, or even God  That would be incorrect Josh 19:40-48 21:43-45  Any failure belonged to Dan Judg 1:34

19. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  This portion of the “First Appendix” seems to provide the details of Josh 19:47

20. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  The Danite leaders send 5 spies to locate land that would solve their problem v. 2a  Traveling north, they stop at Micah’s house in Ephraim…they recognized the voice of the young Levite vv. 2b-3a

21. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  They inquire re: why he was in Ephraim and what he was doing v. 3b  The young Levite informs them he was serving Micah as priest v. 4  The 5 Danites ask him to inquire of the Lord re: their mission for their tribe v. 5

22. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  The young Levite tells them the Lord has approved their mission v. 6  Continuing north, the 5 Danites come to Laish (Leshem) v. 7 Josh 19:47

23. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth

24. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  Description of Laish v. 7  Though the inhabitants lived in the manner after the Sidonians, it appeared somewhat isolated from Phoenicia  It was “quiet…secure”  They were not under any oppression

25. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  The 5 spies return to Dan and report on their discovery (good, spacious land) vv. 8-10  They advised their leaders to go up at once and take it…do not delay  The Danite leaders dispatch 600 armed men to secure the land v. 11

26. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth The “First Appendix” Judg 17-18  The Story Of The Danites 18:1-31  The fact that only 600 were sent might indicate they were not expecting much of a resistance from these isolated people  The Danite military force came to Ephraim and to the house of Micah vv. 12-13

27. In The Days When The Judges Ruled Biblical Studies From Judges & Ruth …