4. But Micah gave the silver back to his mother. So she took about 5 pounds of the silver and gave them to a silversmith. He used the silver to make a statue covered with silver. The statue was put in Micah’s house.
5. Micah had a temple for worshiping idols. He made an ephod and some house idols. Then Micah chose one of his sons to be his priest.
6. (At that time the Israelites did not have a king, so everyone did what they thought was right.)
7. There was a young man who was a Levite from the city of Bethlehem in Judah. He had been living among the tribe of Judah.
8. He left Bethlehem to look for another place to live. As he was traveling, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of the land of Ephraim.
9. Micah asked him, “Where have you come from?” The young man answered, “I am a Levite from the city of Bethlehem in Judah. I am looking for a place to live.”
10. Then Micah said to him, “Live with me. Be my father and my priest. I will give you 4 ounces of silver each year. I will also give you clothes and food.” The Levite did what Micah asked.
11. The young Levite agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons.
12. Micah chose him to be his priest. So the young man became a priest and lived in Micah’s house.
13. And Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me. I know this because I have a man from the tribe of Levi to be my priest.”