Judges 17:13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 17:7-13

We have here an account of Micah's furnishing himself with a Levite for his chaplain, either thinking his son, because the heir of his estate, too good to officiate, or rather, because not of God's tribe, not good enough. Observe, I. What brought this Levite to Micah. By his mother's side he was of the family of Judah, and lived at Bethlehem among his mother's relations (for that was not a Levites? city), or, upon some other account, as a stranger or inmate, sojourned there, Jdg. 17:7. Thence... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 17:13

Then said Micah ,.... Within himself, pleased with what he had done, and with what he engaged in: now know I that the Lord will do me good ; that I shall enjoy his favour, be a happy man, and prosper; and by this it appears, that notwithstanding the idolatry he had fallen into, he had not utterly forsaken the Lord, but worshipped him in and by his images; there was a mixture of the worship of God, and of the worship of images: seeing I have a Levite to my priest ; who was of the same... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 17:13

Now know I that the Lord will do me good - As he had already provided an epitome of the tabernacle, a model of the ark, mercy-seat, and cherubim; and had got proper sacerdotal vestments, and a Levite to officiate; he took for granted that all was right, and that he should now have the benediction of God. Some think that he expected great gain from the concourse of the people to his temple; but of this there is no evidence in the text. Micah appears to have been perfectly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 17:13

This shows the ignorance as well as the superstition of the age (compare 2 Kings 18:22), and gives a picture of the lawlessness of the times. The incidental testimony to the Levitical priesthood is to be noted; but the idolatrous worship in the immediate neighborhood of Shiloh is passing strange. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 17:13

Judges 17:13. Do me good I am assured God will bless me. So blind and grossly partial he was in his judgment, to think that one right circumstance would answer for all his substantial errors, in making and worshipping images against God’s express command, in worshipping God in a forbidden place, by a priest illegally appointed. “He persuades himself,” says Calmet, “that the people, seeing his chapel served by a man of the family of Levi, will come thither with greater confidence, and that... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 17:1-13

17:1-21:25 TRIBAL DISORDER WITHIN ISRAELThe writer of the book has now finished his account of the activity of the judges. To this he adds an appendix consisting of two stories (not necessarily placed in their correct chronological position in the book) that illustrate the disorder that existed in Israel during that period. The nation had no central government and people in the various tribes did as they pleased (see 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The stories record important changes that occurred... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 17:13

do me good. The "good" (as in all such cases) never came. For Micah is afterward robbed both of his idols and his priest. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 17:13

Judges 17:13. Then said Micah, now know I, &c.— What a strange infatuation! Micah is at the summit of his wishes because the Levite has accepted his offers, and because he sees his chapel consecrated, and a priest of the sacerdotal line minister of the new religion planned out by his mother. Micah had rendered himself capitally guilty in making a common Levite a priest. See Num 3:10 and Witsii Egypt. Psalms 133:0.—Idols, teraphim, a prophane altar, an intruded minister,—what noble grounds... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 17:13

13. Now know I that the Lord will do me good—The removal of his son, followed by the installation of this Levite into the priestly office, seems to have satisfied his conscience, that by what he deemed the orderly ministrations of religion he would prosper. This expression of his hope evinces the united influence of ignorance and superstition. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 17:1-13

1. The idolatry of Micah ch. 17The story of Micah (ch. 17) introduces the account of the setting up of image worship in the North (ch. 18). read more