Study note

Judges 17:13

In Micah’s view, hiring a priest made the shrine seem more legitimate. However, he believed the Lord would bless him due to superstition, not obedience. Micah’s disregard for God’s covenant would lead to a curse that no unemployed Levite could prevent. Micah was not the last Israelite to seek a priest or Levite to legitimize improper religious practices (compare 1 Kings 12:28–31; 2 Kings 16:10–18).