Judges 18 31

Judges 18:31 kjv

And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges 18:31 nkjv

So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges 18:31 niv

They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh.

Judges 18:31 esv

So they set up Micah's carved image that he made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

Judges 18:31 nlt

So Micah's carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh.

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 31 Meaning

Judges 18:31 states that the Danites established and maintained the idol originally made by Micah for a significant period. This practice of idolatry persisted concurrent with the legitimate worship center, the Tabernacle, located in Shiloh. The verse underscores the widespread spiritual decay and outright defiance of God's covenant during the era of the Judges, highlighting the tribal adoption of human-made religion over divine instruction.

Judges 18 31 Context

Judges 18:31 is the concluding verse of the lengthy narrative in Judges chapters 17 and 18, which detail the rise of personal idolatry (Micah's household gods) and its subsequent adoption and institutionalization by the tribe of Dan. The Danites, seeking a new territory as their allotted inheritance proved too difficult to secure, encounter Micah's idol-making activities and enlist his Levite priest, Jonathan, as their tribal priest. After violently conquering the peaceful city of Laish and renaming it Dan, they establish this syncretistic worship. This verse emphasizes the enduring nature of this idolatry, explicitly stating it continued "all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh." This phrase grounds the story within the historical timeline, placing it concurrently with the period when the Tabernacle, God's true dwelling place and center of Israelite worship, was fixed at Shiloh. The entire book of Judges consistently demonstrates a pattern of spiritual decline and moral depravity among the Israelites, marked by a lack of central authority and a pervasive "every man did what was right in his own eyes" philosophy (Jdg 17:6, 21:25). The narrative of Micah and Dan serves as an illustrative epilogue, showcasing how quickly the nation devolved from covenant faithfulness to flagrant idolatry, even in a tribe as prominent as Dan. It also acts as a dark premonition for later northern kingdom idolatry.

Judges 18 31 Word analysis

• So they set up for themselves: (וַיָּקִ֧ימוּ לָהֶ֛ם - vayyāqīmū lāhem).

  • vayyāqīmū: A Hiphil imperfect consecutive verb from קוּם (qūm), meaning "to rise," but in the Hiphil, it means "to cause to stand," "to establish," or "to set up." The consecutive indicates a direct consequence of their actions in the preceding verses.
  • lāhem: "For themselves." This dative pronoun emphasizes that this idolatry was a deliberate, self-serving choice by the Danites, undertaken for their own perceived benefit rather than by divine command or a forced situation. It was their project, reinforcing their culpability.

• Micah’s carved image: (פֶ֣סֶל מִיכָ֗ה - pesel Mîḵāh).

  • pesel: (פֶסֶל). This Hebrew word specifically denotes a "carved image" or "graven image," typically made of wood or stone and then perhaps overlaid with metal. It is one of the most common terms for idols condemned throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Ex 20:4, Dt 4:16, Isa 40:19). The term immediately signals an illicit, covenant-breaking act according to the Decalogue. The specification of it being "Micah's" image connects back to chapters 17 and reinforces that this was not a traditional or established deity but a human fabrication, originating from one man's personal religious venture.

• which he had made: (אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה - ʾăšer ʿāśāh).

  • ʾăšer: "Which," a relative pronoun.
  • ʿāśāh: (עָשָׂה). From the verb עשׂה (ʿāśāh), meaning "to make," "to do," or "to prepare." This phrase underscores the human origin of the idol. The irony, as often pointed out by prophets, is the worship of an object fashioned by human hands (Isa 44:9-20). The simplicity of the phrase directly refutes any claim to divine origin or inherent power for the idol.

• all the time that: (כָּל־הַיָּמִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר - kol-hayyāmîm ʾăšer).

  • kol-hayyāmîm: Literally "all the days" or "all the time." This phrase indicates a prolonged duration, suggesting that this idolatrous cult was not a fleeting deviation but became an entrenched and long-lasting practice for the tribe of Dan. This deep-seated sin had generational implications.

• the house of God: (בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים - bêṯ hāʾělōhîm).

  • bêṯ: "House of" or "temple of."
  • hāʾělōhîm: "God," referring to Yahweh, the true God of Israel. This phrase explicitly refers to the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that served as God's dwelling place among His people. Its mention here provides a stark theological contrast, highlighting that the Danites' idolatry occurred simultaneously and defiantly alongside the established legitimate worship center. This underscores the extent of their apostasy—they embraced false worship despite the accessibility and knowledge of true worship.

• was in Shiloh: (בְּשִׁלֹֽה׃ - bəšilōh).

  • bə: "In."
  • Shiloh: A significant geographical and cultic center in central Israel where the Tabernacle had been permanently (for that period) established since the days of Joshua (Jos 18:1). It was the site of the annual feasts and a central place for consulting the Lord. By specifying Shiloh, the text emphasizes that the Danites' sin was not committed in ignorance or isolation from God's presence but in deliberate contravention of the covenant despite the proximity and active existence of true worship. This idolatry persisted until the Tabernacle was either removed or Shiloh was destroyed (likely by the Philistines around 1050 BCE, foreshadowed in 1 Sam 4:11 and described in Psa 78:60 and Jer 7:12).

Words-Group Analysis:

• "So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image, which he had made": This phrase succinctly describes the origin and nature of the idolatry. It emphasizes the active agency of the Danites ("they set up for themselves") in adopting an illegitimate, man-made form of worship ("Micah's carved image, which he had made"). This stands in direct violation of the foundational commandments of the Mosaic covenant, demonstrating the breakdown of spiritual authority and adherence to God's law during this period.

• "all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh": This temporal and locational marker is critical. It signifies the duration and audacious nature of the Danites' sin. The idol worship was not a fleeting error but an enduring practice ("all the time") and one that occurred contemporaneously with and in geographical proximity to the established, legitimate worship of Yahweh at Shiloh. This stark contrast highlights the pervasive spiritual blindness and defiance that gripped Israel, illustrating how deep the apostasy had become—existing alongside and openly challenging the very center of God's presence.

Judges 18 31 Bonus section

The lengthy duration implied by "all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh" often leads scholars to place the events of Judges 17-18 and 19-21 chronologically earlier in the Judges period, perhaps just after Joshua's generation. This placement magnifies the severity of Israel's rapid spiritual declension, showing the root of problems that would plague them throughout the subsequent era. Some traditions link the tribe of Dan's early and sustained embrace of idolatry to its subsequent omission from the list of sealed tribes in Revelation chapter 7, though this interpretation is debated. Regardless, this verse unequivocally paints the picture of a tribe leading the way in organized, persistent disobedience to Yahweh, thereby becoming a stark warning against syncretism and self-invented religion.

Judges 18 31 Commentary

Judges 18:31 is a poignant, tragic summary of the spiritual condition of Israel during the Judges period, as embodied by the tribe of Dan. It encapsulates the deep-seated spiritual malaise marked by flagrant disobedience to the core commands of the Torah, particularly the prohibition against idolatry. The Danites, rather than exercising faith to secure their allotted land or seeking God's guidance, resort to violence, theft, and the establishment of an unauthorized, man-made religion. Their active decision to "set up for themselves Micah's carved image" signifies their willing abandonment of Yahweh for a tangible, humanly fabricated deity, reflecting a desire for a god they could control or understand according to their own fallen wisdom.

The critical phrase, "all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh," adds a profound layer of indictment. It underscores that this idolatry was not committed out of ignorance or isolation. The legitimate, divinely ordained place of worship, the Tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant, was readily accessible and functioning at Shiloh for generations. This verse emphasizes the enduring nature of Dan's apostasy, suggesting it continued perhaps for centuries, potentially until the destruction or abandonment of Shiloh during the time of Samuel (1 Sam 4). This prolonged act of syncretism or outright polytheism, occurring directly parallel to God's presence among His people, dramatically illustrates the recurring theme of the book of Judges: Israel's spiritual decline despite God's faithfulness, and the tragic consequences when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" instead of adhering to God's law. This specific tribal establishment of idolatry foreshadows the larger national apostasies, especially Jeroboam's golden calves placed in Dan and Bethel centuries later (1 Kgs 12:28-30). It is a stark reminder of how a nation blessed by God can drift into spiritual darkness by choosing self-devised worship over divine truth.