Judges 17:11

And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Was unto him as one of his sons.—The words are added by way of reflection on his subsequent ingratitude.

Benson Commentary

Jdg 17:11-12. The Levite was content — Being infected with the common superstition and idolatry of the times. As one of his sons — That is, treated with the same degree of kindness and affection. Micah consecrated the Levite — To be a priest, for which he thought a consecration necessary, as knowing the Levites were no less excluded from the priest’s office than the people. The young man — Instead of his son, whom he had consecrated, but now it seems restrained from the exercise of that office, devolving it wholly upon the Levite, who was nearer akin to it.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:7-13 Micah thought it was a sign of God's favour to him and his images, that a Levite should come to his door. Thus those who please themselves with their own delusions, if Providence unexpectedly bring any thing to their hands that further them in their evil way, are apt from thence to think that God is pleased with them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ten shekels - About 25 shillings to 26 shillings (see Exodus 38:24).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father—a spiritual father, to conduct the religious services of my establishment. He was to receive, in addition to his board, a salary of ten shekels of silver, equal to 25 shillings a year.

a suit of apparel—not only dress for ordinary use, but vestments suitable for the discharge of his priestly functions.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The Levite was content; being constrained by necessity, and infected with the common contagion of the superstition and idolatry of the times.

Was unto him as one of his sons, i.e. treated with the same degree of kindness and affection.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Levite was content to dwell with the man,.... To continue with him; after he had made trial for some time, he liked his service, and his wages, and way of living; it was all agreeable to him:

and the young man was unto him as one of his sons; as dearly beloved by him, and used as kindly and tenderly, as if he had been one of his own children; so strong were the affections of Micah to him, and so well pleased was he with his service.

Geneva Study Bible

And the Levite was {h} content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

(h) Not considering that he forsook the true worship of God to maintain his own belly.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Judges 17:11

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Micah made this proposal to the Levite: "Dwell with me, and become my father and priest; I will give thee ten shekels of silver yearly, and fitting out with clothes and maintenance." אב, father, is an honourable title give to a priest as a paternal friend and spiritual adviser, and is also used with reference to prophets in 2 Kings 6:21 and 2 Kings 13:14, and applied to Joseph in Genesis 45:8. ליּמים, for the days, sc., for which a person was engaged, i.e., for the year (cf. 1 Samuel 27:7, and Leviticus 25:29). "And the Levite went," i.e., went to Micah's house. This meaning is evident from the context. The repetition of the subject, "the Levite," precludes our connecting it with the following verb ויּואל. - In Judges 17:11-13 the result is summed up. The Levite resolved (see at Deuteronomy 1:5) to dwell with Micah, who treated him as one of his sons, and entrusted him with the priesthood at his house of God. And Micah rejoiced that he had got a Levite as priest, and said, "Now I know that Jehovah will prosper me." This belief, or, to speak more correctly, superstition, for which Micah was very speedily to atone, proves that at that time the tribe of Levi held the position assigned it in the law of Moses; that is to say, that it was regarded as the tribe elected by God for the performance of divine worship.