What happensPermalink
An Ephraimite named Micah returns money he stole to his mother, who makes idols from the silver. Micah sets up a shrine in his house and ordains his son a priest. He also hires a traveling Levite as his private priest.
Why it mattersPermalink
This small, private story of a single household shows the depths of apostasy of Israel at this time: with no God-called leader, every detail is corrupted. Micah steals from his mother; she makes graven images; they corrupt a Levite. The disobedience is endless.
Key versePermalink
And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest.