Judges 17: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Judges 17 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim, confesses to his mother that he stole eleven hundred pieces of silver from her (vv. 1-2). After returning the silver, his mother dedicates it to Yahweh to create a carved image and a molten image, which she gives to Micah (vv.

Key verse

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Judges 17:6 (WEB)

Outline

Judges 17:1–2 Micah's Theft and Confession
Judges 17:3–4 Dedication of Silver for Idolatry
Judges 17:5–6 Micah's House of Gods
Judges 17:7–8 A Levite's Arrival
Judges 17:9–12 Micah's Offer to the Levite
Judges 17:13 Micah's Assurance of Favor

Discussion questions

In v2, what does Micah confess about the eleven hundred pieces of silver?
What does Micah do with the money in v4 after it is restored?
Micah's claim in v13 that Yahweh will do good to him: what does this suggest about his understanding of divine favor?
The phrase 'everyone did that which was right in his own eyes' in v6: what does this indicate about the moral climate in Israel?
When has a decision to worship in a personal way, like Micah's, affected your community or family?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Judges 17: Judges 18, Judges 21, Deuteronomy 12.

Before next time: read Judges 18.