Judges 17:5–13

⁵That same Micah had a small temple. He made a sacred linen apron and some statues of gods. He prepared one of his sons to serve as his priest.

⁶In those days Israel didn’t have a king. The people did anything they thought was right.

⁷A young Levite had been living in land that belonged to the tribe of Judah. He was from Bethlehem in Judah. ⁸He left that town to look for some other place to stay. On his way he came to Micah’s house. It was in the hill country of Ephraim.

⁹Micah asked him, “Where are you from?”

“I’m a Levite,” he said. “I’m from Bethlehem in Judah. I’m looking for a place to stay.”

¹⁰Then Micah said to him, “Live with me. Be my father and priest. I’ll give you four ounces of silver a year. I’ll also give you clothes and food.”

¹¹So the Levite agreed to live with him. The young man was just like a son to Micah.

¹²Then Micah prepared the Levite to serve as his priest. He lived in Micah’s house. ¹³Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me. This Levite has become my priest.”