17. The five spies went straight on into the house and took the wooden idol covered with silver, the other idols, and the ephod, while the priest stayed at the gate with the 600 armed men.
18. When the men went into Micah's house and took the sacred objects, the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”
19. They said, “Keep quiet. Don't say a word. Come with us and be our priest and adviser. Wouldn't you rather be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for the family of one man?”
20. This made the priest very happy, so he took the sacred objects and went along with them.
21. They turned round and started off, with their children, their livestock, and their belongings going ahead.