Judges 18 4

Judges 18:4 kjv

And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

Judges 18:4 nkjv

He said to them, "Thus and so Micah did for me. He has hired me, and I have become his priest."

Judges 18:4 niv

He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, "He has hired me and I am his priest."

Judges 18:4 esv

And he said to them, "This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest."

Judges 18:4 nlt

He told them about his agreement with Micah and that he had been hired as Micah's personal priest.

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 4 Meaning

This verse reveals the Levite's candid, albeit self-justifying, explanation to the Danite spies about his role in Micah's household. It succinctly outlines the unauthorized religious arrangement, characterized by a financial agreement rather than divine appointment or conviction. The Levite states that Micah "hired" him, and he thus "became his priest," highlighting a pragmatic, mercenary basis for a sacred office that should have been dedicated solely to the service of Yahweh in accordance with His law. It portrays a deep spiritual compromise rooted in personal gain, reflecting the widespread religious anarchy of the era where individuals constructed their own forms of worship.

Judges 18 4 Context

This verse occurs during a dark period in Israel's history, as stated explicitly in the book of Judges: "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 18:1, 21:25). Chapters 17 and 18 narrate the apostasy of Micah, a man from the Ephraim hill country, who first created a private shrine with idols, an ephod, and teraphim, then consecrated one of his own sons as a priest, before finally "hiring" a young Levite (Jonathan, a grandson of Moses, though this connection is not revealed until Judges 18:30) to serve as his priest for an annual salary (Judg 17:10). The immediate context of Judges 18:4 involves the Danite tribe seeking new territory. They send out five spies (Judg 18:2) who, during their journey, encounter Micah's house and recognize the voice of the Levite. They inquire about his presence there. This verse is the Levite's response, concisely explaining his current employment and priestly role within Micah's household. The entire narrative illustrates the profound spiritual decline and fragmentation within Israel, where God's prescribed worship and order were disregarded in favor of syncretism and personal convenience.

Judges 18 4 Word analysis

• And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): This refers to the Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, previously mentioned in Judg 17 and identified as Jonathan later in Judg 18:30. It shows his readiness to explain his situation to the Danite spies, seemingly without shame, which indicates the low spiritual discernment of the era.
• to them (אֲלֵיהֶם - aleihem): Refers to the five Danite men who were scouting for territory, highlighting a communication where the Levite candidly, or perhaps nonchalantly, shared his compromise.
• "Thus and thus (כֹּה וָכֹה - koh vakhō)": This idiomatic Hebrew expression translates to "in such a way" or "as follows," indicating a generalized summary. It suggests the Levite is recounting the full account of Micah's initial invitation, the offered salary, and the religious articles. It conveys the unimportance of specific details to him, emphasizing the outcome rather than the divine implications.
• "did Micah deal with me": This points to Micah's initiative in setting up the unauthorized religious arrangement. The Levite implicitly portrays himself as responding to an offer, framing his action passively. This demonstrates his lack of firm conviction or dedication to proper Yahwistic worship.
• "and he hired me (וַיִּשְׂכְּרֵנִי - vayyiskəreni)": This is a crucial phrase. The Hebrew verb sakhar (שָׂכַר) means "to hire," indicating a business transaction or employment contract. Priestly service was to be a dedicated, divinely appointed role, not a paid position subject to human employers. This highlights the mercenary nature of the Levite's "priesthood," devoid of true spiritual calling or adherence to the Mosaic Law regarding Levitical duties and provisions (Num 18:20-24, Deut 18:1-8). This act violated the sacredness of the priestly office.
• "and I became his priest (וָאֱהִי לוֹ לְכֹהֵן - va'ehi lo ləkōhen)": This is the culmination of the compromise. The Levite, whose lineage and purpose were specifically tied to serving Yahweh at His designated sanctuary (the Tabernacle), becomes "his" (Micah's) priest for a private, idolatrous cult. The term kohen (כֹּהֵן - priest) here signifies a grave departure from biblical principles, representing a severe defilement and degradation of the sacred office by reducing it to a private service rather than divine.
• "he hired me, and I became his priest": This phrase encapsulates the central corruption. The connection between financial gain and spiritual service signifies a motivation contrary to true worship. It exemplifies the transactional nature of their spiritual reality, where sacred duties were commodified, reflecting the era's widespread disregard for God's divine order and moral principles. The Levite prioritized personal stability and gain over adherence to the Law and the true service of God, directly defying his consecrated purpose.

Judges 18 4 Bonus section

The Levite's casualness in Judges 18:4, simply stating the facts of his employment and position, highlights the profound moral blindness that gripped Israel during the period of the Judges. There's no hint of shame, remorse, or awareness of having violated God's commands regarding proper worship and the legitimate priesthood. This attitude demonstrates the extent to which religious truth had been distorted and replaced by convenience and self-interest. Furthermore, the fact that the Danite spies accepted this arrangement without apparent spiritual discernment underscores the widespread spiritual apathy. This acceptance foreshadows their own later theft of Micah's idols and the Levite himself, demonstrating a willingness to adopt a ready-made, albeit illegitimate, religious structure, for their perceived benefit rather than seeking God's will for true worship and establishment. This interchange paints a grim picture of spiritual compromise feeding into further moral decline.

Judges 18 4 Commentary

Judges 18:4 precisely details the Levite's rationale for his illicit priestly role, exposing the core issues of syncretism, materialism, and religious relativism prevalent in an Israel without godly leadership. His matter-of-fact declaration that Micah "hired" him and he "became his priest" underscores a complete detachment from divine appointment and a focus on earthly provision. The sacred office, meant for the exclusive service of the Lord and sustained by Him through His people's tithes, was reduced to a paid occupation in a private, idolatrous shrine. This casual admission reveals a conscience hardened by pragmatism, seeing little conflict in serving idols while nominally maintaining his Levitical identity. It highlights the spiritual chaos where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes," leading to a corrupted priesthood that prioritized personal comfort and material benefit over divine covenant and truth.

For practical understanding, this warns against religious service driven by mercenary motives, illustrating how focusing on what one can get from spiritual activities, rather than wholeheartedly serving God, can lead to grave compromise and the desacralization of holy callings. It teaches the vital necessity of pure motives in all aspects of ministry and worship.