17 Then the five men who had gone to scout out the land went in and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol,* while the priest was standing by the entrance of the city gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.

18 When they entered Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the silver idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

19 They told him, “Be quiet. Keep your mouth shut.D,c Come with us and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the house of one person or for you to be a priest for a tribe and family in Israel?” 20 So the priest was pleased and took the ephod, household idols, and carved image, and went with the people.