Reading for January 2nd

Read Judges 17.1-13
In 17.1-13: Micah builds a shrine and hires a priest.
In verse 2: Micah confesses to a theft that has put him under a curse.
His mother seeks to counteract the curse with a blessing.
NRSV considers the text scrambled and rearranges it.
In verses 3-4: She takes further action to nullify the curse, using part of the consecrated silver for an idol of cast metal.
In verse 5: This a private, family sanctuary (Heb., "house of God").
The ephod (a priestly garment) and teraphim (figurines) were utilized to discover God's will.
In verse 6: This editorial refrain (18.1; 19.1: 21.25) approves of kingship and communicates displeasure with Micah's actions.
In verse 7: He was of the clan of Judah in the sense of living with them as a resident alien.
In verse 10: Father is an honorific title (compare 5.7).
In verse 13: By virtue of his lineage, the Levite is preferable as priest to Micah's son (v. 5).
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