Judges 17 2

Judges 17:2 kjv

And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.

Judges 17:2 nkjv

And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you, and on which you put a curse, even saying it in my ears?here is the silver with me; I took it." And his mother said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, my son!"

Judges 17:2 niv

said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse?I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!"

Judges 17:2 esv

And he said to his mother, "The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." And his mother said, "Blessed be my son by the LORD."

Judges 17:2 nlt

One day he said to his mother, "I heard you place a curse on the person who stole 1,100 pieces of silver from you. Well, I have the money. I was the one who took it." "The LORD bless you for admitting it," his mother replied.

Judges 17 verses

Judges 17 2 Meaning

This verse details Micah's confession to his mother that he was the one who had stolen 1100 shekels of silver from her. His admission comes immediately after his mother had pronounced a formal curse upon the unknown thief, a curse spoken within Micah's hearing. He reveals the money's whereabouts and acknowledges his direct role in the theft. This interaction highlights a complex blend of familial dysfunction, a profound fear of imprecations, and an underlying spiritual vacuum prevalent during the period of the Judges.

Judges 17 2 Context

Judges 17 serves as the opening chapter of the epilogue to the Book of Judges, chapters 17-21, which graphically illustrates the deep moral and spiritual decay that plagued Israel during this period. The overarching theme is encapsulated by the recurring refrain: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25). This phrase underscores a state of anarchy, spiritual confusion, and abandonment of the Mosaic Law. Judges 17:2 sets the immediate scene within Micah's household, a vivid example of this pervasive breakdown. The mother's hasty curse over her lost silver, and Micah's fear-driven confession, paint a picture of superstition rather than true reverence for God's commandments against theft. The verse provides the financial impetus for the events that follow—the silver, recovered from the thief, is then perverted into establishing an idolatrous household shrine, complete with a molten image and a hired Levite, revealing a total distortion of true Yahweh worship. It portrays a society where even familial bonds are fractured by dishonesty and where religious acts are self-serving and syncretistic, devoid of genuine piety.

Judges 17 2 Word analysis

• And he said unto his mother,
  • "And he": Refers to Micah, introduced in the preceding verse as "a man of the hill country of Ephraim" (Jdg 17:1). The immediate direct address reveals an intimate family dynamic, yet it is one characterized by concealed sin.
  • "said": Simple Hebrew verb for speaking. Indicates the verbal confession that follows.
  • "unto his mother": Specifies the relationship and the audience for the confession, emphasizing the personal and domestic nature of the theft. This confession within the family sphere sets the stage for a corrupted "religious" response.
• The eleven hundred shekels of silver
  • "The eleven hundred shekels of silver": (Hebrew: eleph me'ah kesef) This exact, large sum immediately points to a significant amount of wealth, underscoring the severity of the theft. 1100 shekels of silver was a vast fortune in that era, for comparison, Abraham bought the field of Machpelah for 400 shekels (Gen 23:16). This large sum later becomes the "devoted" object that bankrolls Micah's domestic cult. Its high value might explain the mother's dramatic reaction.
• that were taken from thee,
  • "that were taken": (Hebrew: asher luqqah mimmekki) Uses the passive voice initially, softening the direct admission of guilt before the full confession is made. The verb implies the money was unjustly appropriated.
  • "from thee": Identifies the victim of the theft directly as Micah's mother, deepening the personal betrayal involved.
• about which thou cursedst,
  • "about which": Refers to the silver.
  • "thou cursedst": (Hebrew: alah) Derived from the root alah, meaning to utter a curse, swear an oath, or pronounce an imprecation. This is the crucial catalyst for Micah's confession. His mother likely uttered a solemn, binding curse, perhaps invoking divine judgment on the thief. This points to a cultural belief in the power of curses to bring misfortune or exposure, and Micah's immediate fear of it rather than genuine repentance or fear of the Lord.
• and spakest of also in mine ears,
  • "and spakest of also in mine ears": (Hebrew: vatti daber-nah ba'oznai) Literally, "and you spoke into my ears." This emphasizes that Micah was a direct, privy hearer of his mother's curse. He was fully aware of the imprecation, intensifying the pressure on him. It signifies the direct confrontation that compelled his confession, confirming he knew the stakes.
• behold, the silver is with me;
  • "behold,": (Hebrew: hinnēh) An interjection used to draw immediate attention, signifying a dramatic reveal or sudden declaration. Here, it precedes Micah's startling admission.
  • "the silver is with me": A direct admission of possession, beginning the full confession. The money has been in his possession all along.
• I took it.
  • "I took it.": (Hebrew: ani lekaḥtiv) A straightforward, unequivocal, and concise confession of culpability. "I" explicitly assigns personal responsibility for the theft. Lekaḥ means to take, specifically to seize or appropriate. This closes the matter of the theft itself, yet ironically opens the door for greater spiritual transgression.

Words-group Analysis

• "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears": This long preceding clause meticulously details the significant nature of the theft, the severity of the mother's reaction, and the direct exposure Micah had to the curse. It builds the tension, revealing that Micah's confession is not an act of spontaneous repentance but a response to powerful, supernatural coercion. This cultural context underscores how fear of a curse could override ethical conscience.
• "behold, the silver is with me; I took it.": This marks the climactic moment of confession. The dramatic "behold" signals a pivotal disclosure, followed by the concise, undeniable admission of guilt. This resolution of the theft problem immediately creates a new, greater spiritual problem: the use of the stolen silver for an idolatrous shrine, showcasing the misplaced spiritual priorities of the age of the Judges.

Judges 17 2 Bonus section

The sum of 1100 shekels also notably matches the amount offered by each of the five Philistine lords to Delilah to betray Samson in Judges 16:5. This strong echo might suggest this specific amount was a conventional "blood money" or a very substantial payment in the region for acts of betrayal or highly valued services, further emphasizing the gravity and mercenary nature of Micah's initial sin and the mother's subsequent "sanctification." The narrative subtly critiques how precious metals, intended for God's glory or righteous commerce, were routinely diverted for illicit gain or idolatrous practices during this era of spiritual decline. Micah's action reflects a broader societal illness, where familial bonds and divine commandments were eroded, contributing to the systemic moral corruption portrayed in the latter part of Judges.

Judges 17 2 Commentary

Judges 17:2 succinctly exposes the moral and spiritual chaos in Israel during the time of the Judges. Micah's confession of theft, though seemingly a resolution to his mother's lost silver, reveals the flawed motivations of both parties. His confession isn't driven by repentance or conviction of sin against God's law, but by a pragmatic fear of his mother's spoken curse—a deeply superstitious response that highlights a lack of genuine Yahwistic piety. The substantial amount of silver stolen (1100 shekels) underscores the significant transgression. This domestic dishonesty, surprisingly resolved not through divine justice but familial negotiation, tragically leads to further apostasy. Instead of dedicating the returned silver to the Lord for purification, or to charity as Mosaic Law might imply for a repentant thief, the mother sanctifies it to craft an idol for her son, thereby embedding syncretism within her own household. This initial incident sets a dangerous precedent for the chapter, exemplifying how easily "everyone did what was right in his own eyes," leading to corrupt and self-serving religiosity in direct defiance of God's covenant.