The Silver, The Image, and the Priest
Before we continue
In part 2 of The Silver, the Image, and the Priest, we saw how convoluted Micah’s worship had become. He was a Jew from the tribe of Ephraim, which was named after Joseph’s son, Ephraim. The name means “fruitful.” Joseph, you may remember, was sold by his brothers to a group of Egyptians who later sold him into slavery. After many events (you can read the story here), Joseph ended up serving Pharaoh (the King of Egypt) and gained great favor, ultimately becoming second in command over the nation. When Joseph had his second son, he named him “Ephraim.” This signified how God had taken Joseph’s difficult journey and turned it into a fruitful one.
So, it is strange that Micah, who came from a lineage known for blessing and fruitfulness, would turn to worship an idol, but he did. This mistake on his part led to his downfall.
The Priest
In this third and final part of The Silver, the Image, and the Priest, we will see what happens to Micah and his priest as the Danites, whom Micah’s priest had blessed on their initial journey, return to take the priest with them. Because his counsel was so good when they first passed through, they mistakenly believed that their success, if they had the priest with them, was guaranteed.
“Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish said to their kinsmen, ‘Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod and household idols, and a carved image and a cast metal image? Now then, consider what you should do.’ 15 So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and asked him how he was doing. 16 Meanwhile, the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, were positioned at the entrance of the gate. 17 Now the five men who went to spy out the land went up and entered there; they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. 18 When these men entered Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, household idols, and the cast metal image, the priest said to them, ‘What are you doing?’ 19 And they said to him, ‘Be silent, put your hand over your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?’ 20 The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and went among the people.”
Judges 18:14-20 (NASB)
The tribe of Dan was known for its military strength. The famous judge, Samson, recognized for his exceptional strength, came from the tribe of Dan. It was the Danites whom the (false) priest had blessed.
Rather than make a fuss, the Danites, who had arrived with a group of 600 armed men, sent in the original five soldiers who had received the blessing to retrieve the priest.
The priest was startled when he saw the soldiers approaching and immediately asked, “What are you doing?” Their response was abrupt. They took what pleased them: the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the cast metal image.
Without giving him enough time to think, they said, “Wouldn’t you rather serve an entire tribe and gain more influence and resources than stay in one man’s house?” The offer appealed to him. The priest was happy with the idea of a higher status and rewards, and he went with them without hesitation; a life of ease seemed within reach.
As it was with Micah when he stole his mother’s silver, the priest was enticed by the prospect of wealth. What goes around comes around!
Micah disappears from the story
It didn’t take long for Micah to realize that his house had been ransacked, and his priest was gone. He gathered his neighbors, caught up with the Danites, and confronted them.
“Then they turned and left, and put the children, the livestock, and the valuables in front of them. 22 When they had distanced themselves from Micah’s house, the men who were in the houses near Micah’s house assembled by command and overtook the sons of Dan. 23 Then they called out to the sons of Dan, who turned [around and said to Micah, ‘What is the matter with you, that you have assembled together?’ 24 And he said, ‘You have taken my gods which I made, and the priest, and have gone away; what more do I have? So how can you say to me, “What is the matter with you?’” 25 Then the sons of Dan said to him, ‘Do not let your voice be heard among us, or else fierce men will attack you, and you will lose your life and the lives of your household.’ 26 So the sons of Dan went on their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.”
Judges 18:21-26 (NASB)
Micah’s attempts to recover his priest and household idols were utterly in vain. The Danites had no intention of returning anything to him. They wanted what they believed would ensure their success, and Micah’s (false) priest fit their plans perfectly. When they threatened to annihilate him and those with him, Micah had no choice but to turn back.
His dreams of status and security, built on the silver, the image, and the priest, were shattered.
After this point, the story completely shifts away from Micah. As for the priest, once he leaves with the Danites, Scripture never mentions him again. His personal fate remains unknown; the Bible falls silent on the subject. He disappears from the story, serving as a disturbing reminder that the things we value, those things that signify “the silver, the image, and the priest” to us, won’t lead us where we hope to go.
Replacement priests
The Danites went on to conquer the city of Laish and renamed it Dan (see Judges 18:27-29). At this point, they apparently concluded that the priest they had abducted from Micah’s house wasn’t fit to serve them. And, instead of keeping Micah’s priest, they found more suitable candidates to serve as their priests:
“The sons of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image which he had made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.”
Judges 18:30,31 (NASB)
Those they appointed as priests were Gershom and his sons. Moses was Gershom’s father (see Exodus 2:22 and 1 Chronicles 23:15). The Danites probably thought that no one was better suited to serve as their priests than these men, who were directly related to Moses, giving their idol worship an appearance of legitimacy in their eyes.
In those days, it was common for the people of Israel to set up shrines, as Micah and the Danites did, for use when they were far from Shiloh, God’s house. They often placed convenience above true devotion, worshiping the gods they preferred while including only a trace of God’s presence to make their practices seem acceptable. This serves as a reminder of how easily our hearts can settle for partial obedience.
Patterns that repeat
From Micah and the Danites, we can see patterns that repeat in Israel’s story and in our own hearts, offering lessons we would do well to recognize.
- Greed and envy: Micah stole his mother’s silver (see Judges 17:2), and the Danites stole Micah’s priest and idols (see Judges 18:18-20).
- Corrupt worship: Micah and his mother combined idol worship with worshiping God (see Judges 17:2,3). The Danites set up the idol and other idolatrous items they had taken from Micah, and appointed Moses’ grandson and his sons as priests (see Judges 18:30,31).
These patterns are not just historical. Today, they appear when our work or possessions become idols, when we worship only where it is comfortable instead of where it challenges us, or when we make decisions apart from God’s wisdom, doing what seems right in our own eyes. Just as with Micah and the Danites, greed, envy, and corrupt worship continue to surface in ways that test our hearts.
Ultimately, this story reminds us to examine what we hold dear, to root our worship and decisions in God’s Word, and to seek His guidance above all, so that our “silver, our images, and our priests” do not lead us away from Him.
How to live above the pitfalls of The Silver, the Image, and the Priest:
- Examine what you rely on for security. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything that has become “the silver, the image, or the priest” in your life (Isaiah 40:31).
- Submit your decisions to God’s wisdom. Pause before choosing, pray, and seek Scripture instead of doing what seems right in your own eyes (1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
- Guard your worship. Don’t let convenience or comfort shape how you honor God. Worship Him as He desires to be worshiped (John 4:24).
- Watch for the slow drift of the heart. Idolatry begins quietly. Regularly realign your heart with God’s Word (Hebrews 2:1).
- Remember that shortcuts never produce fruit. Easy paths lead to empty endings. Choose obedience even when it costs something (James 5:7).
- Anchor your identity in Christ alone. Let go of the belief that status, influence, or possessions can define you. Let your confidence rest in Christ (Hebrews 6:19).
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