{"id":56063,"date":"2018-07-09T17:42:51","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-228\/"},"modified":"2022-12-20T16:04:17","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T14:04:17","slug":"wall-228","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-228\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Judges-17"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"228","date":"20260714","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","books_group":"Prophets","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"home_posts":false,"posts":[{"order":1,"id":"56078","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Judges Chapter 17 - Read by Norma Fire ","post_title":"Judges Chapter 17 - Read by Norma Fire","slug":"judges-chapter-17-read-by-norma-fire","old_id":"56078","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Judges 17","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"read by Norma Fire","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_Judges_Chapter_17_read_by_Norma_Fire","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"110237","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Stories Of Utter Chaos ","post_title":"Stories Of Utter Chaos","slug":"stories-of-utter-chaos","old_id":"110237","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The ups and downs of central leadership and the lack thereof\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The last few chapters of Judges have no judges. Instead, they are stories of the utter chaos that existed in Israel. The text will repeat the phrase \u201cat that time there was no king in Israel, everyone did what they wanted to do\u201d over and over again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first story involves Micha. Micha admits to his mother that he stole silver coins from her. She is so overjoyed that she instructs him to purchase a robe and idol with the money. Micha then sets up a little temple in his house.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One day a stranger appears: \u201cThere was a young man from Bethlehem of Judah, from the clan seat of Judah; he was a Levite and he was \u201c<\/span>gar sham<\/span><\/em>\u201d [lit. \u201cresided there as a sojourner\u201d] (verse 6). This verse is very strange. The man comes from Bethlehem in Judah. That is fine. But then the verse says he is from the tribe of Judah and a Levite. How could he be both?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Some commentators say that he was a Levite who lived in the territory of Judah. The Levite cities were scattered throughout the land. Other commentators explain that this individual was really a member of the tribe of Judah and not a Levite. Best case scenario - he acted as a teacher, and so he was called a Levite. Worst case scenario, and one that matches with the rest of the story, is that he was an imposter. He was a Judite who acted as though he was a Levite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The symbolism here is of the ruling class of Judah taking on the priestly duties of the tribe of Levi. A thousand years later, during the Hasmonean period, the opposite will happen. The tribe of Levi will take over the kingship from Judah. This act will anger many members of the tribe of Judah, including Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, compiler of the Mishnah, and who as a result did not include the Hanukkah story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The last part of the verse is also odd. What does \u201c<\/span>gar-sham<\/span><\/em>\u201d mean? The literal translation is that he sojourned there. This means that the man was somewhat of a nomad who happened to be living in Judah at the time. Some commentators think that this was a nice way of the text to not reveal his real name. <\/span>Gar-sham<\/em> <\/span>could be Gershom from the tribe of Levi who was Moses\u2019 son. This is bolstered by the next chapter referring to the priest as the grandson of \u201cMenashe\u201d but with the letter \u201c<\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>\u201d suspended in the text, revealing the name of Moses. But if the text wanted to protect Moses, why tell the story of his wayward descendant? Once again, the text is trying to send a subtle message against the troubles of a monarchy. Yes, the official line of these last few chapters is that monarchy brings stability and uniformity and peace. But, monarchy can also have a downside. Even the grandson of the greatest leader of the Israelites can go 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Superficial Piety Lies A Deep Depravity ","post_title":"Underneath Superficial Piety Lies A Deep Depravity","slug":"underneath-superficial-piety-lies-a-deep-depravity","old_id":"56266","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37404,"post_title":"Jennifer Raskas","slug":"jennifer-raskas","old_id":"37404","first_name":"Jennifer ","last_name":"Raskas ","description":"Jennifer Raskas is the Washington D.C. Manager for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. She teaches classes widely on Hebrew literary approaches to readings in Tanakh. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and her Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.","short_description":"Jennifer Raskas is the Washington D.C. Manager for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37405,"alt":"","title":"Jennifer Raskas","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483.jpg","width":1680,"height":1647,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-300x294.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":294,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-768x753.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":753,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-1024x1004.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1004,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1506,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483.jpg","2048x2048-width":1680,"2048x2048-height":1647,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-1200x1176.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1176,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Jennifer-Raskas-e1533908320483-428x420.jpg","home_baner-width":428,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Judges as Context and Counterpoint","post_main_content_content":"

The book of Ruth starts with the words, \u201cVayehi Bi\u2019ymei Sh\u2019fot Hashoftim<\/em>\u201d, \u201cAnd it came to pass in the days that the judges judged\u201d (Ruth 1:1). These words set the book of Ruth in the time period of the Shoftim, Judges. When we take a deeper look at the last five chapters of the book of Judges, we see many signs that the book of Ruth actually serves as a \u201ctikkun<\/em>\u201d, or correction, for many of the terrible acts that the Israelites perform in Judges chapters 17-21.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Though these terrible acts will include lying, rape, stealing, killing and civil war, the people in the text often perceive their own actions as virtuous. In that way the stories describe a society where on the surface everything is fine, but beyond the surface lies depravity and sin. \u00a0In contrast, the book of Ruth is largely about Israelites meeting a woman, Ruth, who on the surface is a foreigner of little concern, and then discovering what a true \u201ceshet chayil<\/em>\u201d, woman of valor, she is (Ruth 3:11). In this way the Israelites learn to look beyond the surface and recognize true virtue.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In our chapter of Judges, chapter 17, for example, we meet Micah, who returns missing money to his mother. His mother, proud of her son, exclaims, \u201cBlessed be my son to God\u201d (Judges 17:2) and then dedicates the money to the Lord. On the surface, this seems like a great pious, familial tale of righteousness. However, when we dig deeper and look at the other details, we see that Micah knows where the money is because he stole it from his mother, and they use the money to build a \u201cgraven image\u201d (17:3). Just this short episode contains multiple violations of the Ten Commandments!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In contrast, in the book of Ruth we will see acts of pure generosity, family standing loyally beside one another, and no less than five different episodes of people blessing others to God, each after an actual virtuous act. \u00a0These blessings include Boaz\u2019s servants blessing him (Ruth 2:4), Naomi twice blessing Boaz (2:19, 20), Boaz blessing Ruth (3:10), and all the women present at the end of the book blessing God over the acts he performed for Naomi (4:14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is an ultimate sign that we may be meant to read these texts in contrast to one another? While the last five chapters of the Book of Judges contain the refrain, \u201cthere was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in their own eyes\u201d (see Judges 17:6 for example), the Book of Ruth ends with the pronouncement of a new era of leadership for Israel, the birth, through Ruth, of King David.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Join us over the next four days as we analyze how the same words are used differently in each text and we continue to discover contrasts and lessons that can be learned by reading these texts together.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

*<\/span> For a fuller exploration about the contrast between the end of the Book of Judges and the Book of Ruth, see: Raskas, Jennifer R.<\/span> \u201cThe Book of Ruth: A Contrast to the End of the Book of Judges.\u201d<\/span><\/a> Jewish Bible Quarterly. Volume 43:4 (2015): p. 223-232<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Image by: Mariusz Prusaczyk from Pixabay<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56267,"alt":"","title":"jud17-below","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Special Series: The Tikkun of Ruth I","tile_main_caption":"Underneath Superficial Piety Lies A Deep Depravity","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Judges as Context and Counterpoint","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56267,"alt":"","title":"jud17-below","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-below-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"337","name":"Ruth","old_id":"737"},{"term_id":"407","name":"Tikkun","old_id":"807"},{"term_id":"837","name":"Judges","old_id":"1237"}]},{"order":4,"id":"56263","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Foreshadowing Of Reconciliation ","post_title":"Foreshadowing Of Reconciliation","slug":"foreshadowing-of-reconciliation","old_id":"56263","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. She currently lives in Boston, where she teaches about storytelling in the bible and the subversive depths of Hebrew words.\r\n","short_description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born Boston-based writer and speaker about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Serious dysfunctionality, with a glimmer of hope\u2026","post_main_content_content":"

Judges 17 starts with a deceptively positive story. Instead of telling us how Micha stole his mother\u2019s money, the narrative jumps straight from \u201cthere was a man in the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah\u201d to Micha\u2019s confession: \u201che said to his mother, \u2018The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you\u2026 I have that silver; I took it.\u2019\u201d (17:1) This opening shifts our attention from Micha\u2019s transgression to his attempt to correct it, and predisposes us to expect a story about self-betterment and redemption. When Micha\u2019s mother forgives her son immediately, this expectation is temporarily validated. Though other reconciliation attempts in Judges lead to disaster (think of Samson\u2019s doomed attempt to visit his first wife, or the Levite\u2019s attempt to reconcile with his concubine two chapters hence), we can conclude that the reconciliation between Micha and his mother is successful. Furthermore: nothing comes along to challenge it down the line.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This little scene is so benign that it seems out of place in the book of Judges. What does it have to do with the collapse of Israelite society? Why does the narrator not only record this story, but also highlight it by placing it in the beginning of Micha\u2019s tale? Sure, Micha\u2019s reconciliation with his mother explains how he came to own a house of God with a molten image (she dedicated the stolen-then-returned money to this enterprise). But why is this something that we the readers need to know?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps the biblical storyteller uses this tale as a way to set us up to be surprised. The reconciliation lulls us into expecting a pleasant story about family bonds surviving hardships. This expectation carries through into our encounter with the Levite boy, whom Micha first calls \u201cfather\u201d and then treats \u201clike one of his own sons.\u201d Against this backdrop, the Levite boy\u2019s betrayal in Judges 18 is bound to shock us. After watching Micha\u2019s reconciliation with the mother he stole from, we do not expect the Levite boy to steal from Micha so callously, and leave.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the reconciliation story highlights yet another, and deeper, betrayal. Micha may have restored the stolen money to his mother, but he went on to use it for idolatry, thus betraying Israel\u2019s father \u2013 God. Micha\u2019s story draws our attention to this manifestation of the chronic problems of Judges. It also, however, offers us a glimmer of hope: if Micha was able to reconcile with the parent he betrayed, maybe the Israelites can break the cycle of the book of Judges, and find a way to reconcile with God.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56264,"alt":"","title":"jud17-hope","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Foreshadowing Of Reconciliation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Serious dysfunctionality, with a glimmer of hope\u2026","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56264,"alt":"","title":"jud17-hope","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-hope-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"429","name":"Idolatry","old_id":"829"},{"term_id":"451","name":"Hope","old_id":"851"},{"term_id":"459","name":"Forgiveness","old_id":"859"},{"term_id":"564","name":"Father","old_id":"964"},{"term_id":"604","name":"Mothers","old_id":"1004"}]},{"order":5,"id":"56269","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Losing God ","post_title":"Losing God","slug":"losing-god","old_id":"56269","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54871,"post_title":"Hannah Vorchheimer","slug":"hannah-vorchheimer","old_id":"54871","first_name":"Hannah ","last_name":"Vorchheimer ","description":"Hannah Vorchheimer is a senior at SAR High School. After spending her gap year in Migdal Oz, she will attend Barnard College. ","short_description":"Hannah Vorchheimer is a senior at SAR High School. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54991,"alt":"","title":"Hannah Vorchheimer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","width":480,"height":480,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer-300x300.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","medium_large-width":480,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","large-width":480,"large-height":480,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","1536x1536-width":480,"1536x1536-height":480,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","2048x2048-width":480,"2048x2048-height":480,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer.jpeg","post_full_size-width":480,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Hannah-Vorchheimer-420x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An insight into the troubled period from the names of the central characters","post_main_content_content":"

In this chapter, we are introduced to a man, Micayahu, from the tribe of Ephraim. After his mother commissions the making of a number of idols from silver, this man now has a house of idolatry. This incident is far from shocking due to our knowledge of the nation\u2019s tendency to turn towards idol worship. However, a look at the curious use of names allows us to glean more insights into the downfall of the nation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the beginning of the story, this man\u2019s name was \u201cMichayahu\u201d, the \u201cyahu\u201d suffix of the man\u2019s name invokes the name of God. However, after he makes for himself a house of graven images, the Bible only refers to him as \u201cMicha\u201d; no longer is the name of God a part of his identity. The name of God has been removed from his name, the same way that Micha removed the name of God from his dwelling place by building the idols.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God was further distanced from the house of Micha when a \u00a0Levite is hired to be an idolatrous priest. In fact, this Levi remains nameless and the Bible refers to him only by his occupation. He has no name (in this chapter), let alone a name that \u00a0expresses closeness to God. Someone who was once designated to serve God is now contaminated by abetting idol worship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These individuals\u2019 names (or lack thereof) seem to be a microcosm for the larger plight of the nation as they drift further and further away from God. Earlier on, the nation cleaved to God. God guided them through tough times at the hands of their worst enemies, despite their affiliations with idolatrous worship. The nation always returned to God and promised to remain loyal. However, as the the Book of Judges develops further, the nation has declined to an extent where just like Micha and the Levi, they no longer seek out God, or seem troubled by the lack of a relationship with the divine. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56275,"alt":"","title":"jud17-losing","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","width":960,"height":480,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":480,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":480,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":480,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Losing God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An insight into the troubled period from the names of the central characters","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56275,"alt":"","title":"jud17-losing","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","width":960,"height":480,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":480,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":480,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":480,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-losing-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"429","name":"Idolatry","old_id":"829"},{"term_id":"551","name":"Names","old_id":"951"}]},{"order":6,"id":"56271","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Lawless Times ","post_title":"Lawless Times","slug":"lawless-times","old_id":"56271","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. 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Our chapter raises a most grievous issue: idolatry. Micah, or Michayhu, was a man from the Ephraim hill country (v.1) about whom we know nothing save that his wealthy mother gave 200 silver pieces that she had dedicated to God to a silversmith to fashion a graven image and a molten image (<\/span>pesel u-masekha<\/span><\/em>, 3-4). Micah set up a private sanctuary, fashioned priestly vestments (ephod<\/em>) and paraphernalia (terafim<\/em>), appointed his son as priest (5), and later hired a professional holy-man, a Levite, to augment his clergy (12), creating a kind of sacral oxymoron: a Levi-Kohen (13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At this juncture, there are several things we need to recall. First, Ephraim has played an outsized role thus far in the book. Ehud\u2019s posse came from Ephraim (chapter 3), Deborah lived in the Ephraim hill country (chapter 4) as did the later judge Tola ben Puah (10), Gideon\u2019s army came from Ephraim (7-8), and Jephthah\u2019s failure to use Ephraimite soldiers led to a civil war (12). It will also help to recall that we have encountered something similar earlier in Judges apropos Gideon. In chapter eight, we read that Gideon instructed his followers to turn over the golden earrings they had taken as spoils (24) and he fashioned from them a \u201cgolden <\/span>ephod<\/span><\/em>\u201d (apron?), \u201cand all Israel went astray after it, and it became an obstacle to Gideon and his family\u201d (27).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How could Micah, the Levite, or anyone else involved in our chapter reconcile a private sanctuary, priestly vestments, etc., with dedication to God? Was there not an obvious\u2014and odious\u2014clash with the Tabernacle at Shiloh? The answer seems to arise out of verse 6 (which repeats itself in 18:1 and 21:25, the closing verse of the book): \u201cIn those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.\u201d According to rabbinic chronology, the events reported in the final chapters of the Book of Judges actually transpired at the very beginning of that era, preceding those of Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, etc. The absence of authority\u2014political or religious\u2014allowed for what scholars call \u201csyncretism,\u201d the specious combination of genuine religious devotion and superstitious practice. As to the chronological anarchy, we shall have more to say about it in the next chapter.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56273,"alt":"","title":"jud17-lawlessness","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","width":503,"height":205,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness-300x122.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":122,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","medium_large-width":503,"medium_large-height":205,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","large-width":503,"large-height":205,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","1536x1536-width":503,"1536x1536-height":205,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","2048x2048-width":503,"2048x2048-height":205,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","post_full_size-width":503,"post_full_size-height":205,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","home_baner-width":503,"home_baner-height":205}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Lawless Times","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Chronological and real anarchy, with a twist of surprising syncretism","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56273,"alt":"","title":"jud17-lawlessness","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","width":503,"height":205,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness-300x122.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":122,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","medium_large-width":503,"medium_large-height":205,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","large-width":503,"large-height":205,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","1536x1536-width":503,"1536x1536-height":205,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","2048x2048-width":503,"2048x2048-height":205,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","post_full_size-width":503,"post_full_size-height":205,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud17-lawlessness.png","home_baner-width":503,"home_baner-height":205}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"429","name":"Idolatry","old_id":"829"}]},{"order":7,"id":"56281","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Price Of Choice ","post_title":"The Price Of Choice","slug":"the-price-of-choice","old_id":"56281","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37333,"post_title":"Esther Jilovsky","slug":"esther-jilovsky","old_id":"37333","first_name":"Esther ","last_name":"Jilovsky","description":"Dr Esther Jilovsky is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. A native of Melbourne, Australia, she comes to the rabbinate with a PhD from the University of London in 2011. A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she is the author of Remembering the Holocaust: Generations, Witnessing and Place and co-editor of In the Shadows of Memory: The Holocaust and the Third Generation. \r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr Esther Jilovsky is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52868,"alt":"","title":"esther jilovsky.jpeg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1.jpg","width":3581,"height":5371,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"On the line between freedom and anarchy","post_main_content_content":"

It was Yom Kippur afternoon. The buzz of crickets hummed in the distance. Inside, the ceiling fan whirred round and round, whispering its breezy rhythm. We sat in a relaxed circle, trying to ignore our pangs of hunger and the oppressive heat as the fast entered its last few hours. A lovely sunny afternoon spent indoors praying and fasting. A perfect moment to talk about freedom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yom Kippur may not be the first Jewish holiday that springs to mind when we think about freedom. Pesach, our spring festival of redemption and renewal, is after all a celebration of freedom, a time for recalling the Exodus as we journey through our Seder. Yet the concept of freedom is also pivotal to our spiritual and liturgical journey on Yom Kippur. The Yom Kippur liturgy invites us to grapple with big questions about life and death, to reassess the choices we\u2019ve made in the past year, to wrestle with what it means to atone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our tradition teaches that slavery is the opposite of freedom. Yet, pure choice does not necessarily mean freedom. In Judges 17, we read about a man named Micah who made idols \u2013 a type of worship forbidden by Israelite tradition. The narrator tells us that: \"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did as he pleased\" (17:6). Here \u2018king\u2019 can be understood both literally and as a metaphor for the Eternal. With no king, the people of Israel could turn away from the Eternal, and do what they pleased, but that also meant turning away from the Eternal\u2019s laws. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Micah engages a young man, a Levite, to serve as his priest, concluding that \"now I know that the Eternal will do me good, since I have a Levite as my priest\" (17:13). It reads almost like an insurance policy with the Eternal \u2013 by making a Levite his priest, Micah hopes it will counteract his actions with idols.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Micah\u2019s freedom has consequences. Every person doing as they please might sound like freedom, but it leads to anarchy. The tribes of Israel go to war against the tribe of Benjamin, their own people. Freedom is not so simple, particularly when it impedes the freedom of another. Freedom is a treasure we must not take lightly. Micah makes idols because he has the freedom to do so. But that does not make it right.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

By engaging in idol worship, Micah turns away from the Eternal\u2019s covenant made with all Israel at Mount Sinai. It is his choice. 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\u201cDivination Sources<\/a>\u201d by Joshua Berkowitz: What do Jewish sources say about illicit predictions?<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Judges 17","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"56252","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Judges 17 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Judges 17","slug":"points-to-ponder-judges-17","old_id":"56252","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"228","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. A scary curse<\/span><\/i>. The mother cursed whoever stole the money, and when Micha heard her words, he admits the theft out of fear that the curse might just work. The mother, too, fears the curse that came out of her mouth, and so tries to remedy the situation, not to flatter, when she finds out the identity of the thief and says \u201cBlessed of the LORD be my son\u201d (verse 2). The fear of the effects of the curse returns at the end of the chapter, when Micha says: \u201c\u2018Now I know,\u2019 Micah told himself, \u2018that the LORD will prosper me\u2019\u201d (verse 13).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Money matters<\/span><\/i>. A lot of money changes hands in this chapter, each time with exact change: 1100 shekels of silver were stolen, the statue cost 200 shekels, and the priestly levite cost 10 a year.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The father, the son, and the holi-ness<\/span><\/i>. Micha invites the boy \u201cto be for me a father and a priest\u201d (verse 10) and relates to him as \u201cone of his sons\u201d (11).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. What\u2019s not quite right here?<\/span><\/i> The relationship between mother and son? Founding a temple with stolen money? Setting up a private temple? Greasing palms for holy service? All of the above? In other words: \u201cIn those days there was no king in Israel; every man did as he pleased\u201d (verse 6).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Where does all this lead?<\/i> To the next chapter of course.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Judges 17","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Judges","chapter":"17","chapter_main_number":"228","date":"20260714","wall_id":"228"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/56063"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}