1 There was a man named Micah who lived in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 Micah said to his mother, “Do you remember that someone stole 28 pounds* 28 pounds Literally, “1100 shekels” (12.6 kg). Also in verse 3. of silver from you? I heard you say a curse about that. Well, I have the silver. I took it.”

His mother said, “The LORD bless you, my son.”

3 Micah gave the 28 pounds of silver back to his mother. Then she said, “I will give this silver as a special gift to the LORD. I will give it to my son so that he can make a statue and cover it with the silver. So now, son, I give the silver back to you.”

4 But Micah gave the silver back to his mother. So she took about 5 pounds† about 5 pounds Literally, “200 shekels” (2.3 kg). of the silver and gave them to a silversmith.‡ silversmith A person who makes things from silver. He used the silver to make a statue covered with silver. The statue was put in Micah’s house. 5 Micah had a temple for worshiping idols. He made an ephod§ ephod This may have been a special vest or coat like that worn by the high priest (see Exodus 28:2-14), or it may have been a kind of idol. Also in 18:14. and some house idols. Then Micah chose one of his sons to be his priest. 6 (At that time the Israelites did not have a king, so everyone did what they thought was right.)

7 There was a young man who was a Levite from the city of Bethlehem in Judah. He had been living among the tribe of Judah. 8 He left Bethlehem to look for another place to live. As he was traveling, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of the land of Ephraim. 9 Micah asked him, “Where have you come from?”

The young man answered, “I am a Levite from the city of Bethlehem in Judah. I am looking for a place to live.”

10 Then Micah said to him, “Live with me. Be my father and my priest. I will give you 4 ounces* 4 ounces Literally, “10 shekels” (115 g). of silver each year. I will also give you clothes and food.”

The Levite did what Micah asked. 11 The young Levite agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons. 12 Micah chose him to be his priest. So the young man became a priest and lived in Micah’s house. 13 And Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me. I know this because I have a man from the tribe of Levi to be my priest.”