1 There was a man from the hills of Efrayim named Mikhay’hu.
2 He said to his mother, “You know the 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you — you pronounced a curse about it, and you told me about it? Well, the money is with me. I took it.” His mother said, “MayAdonaibless my son,”
3 as he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. Then his mother said, “I solemnly dedicate this money of mine toAdonai, in order for my son to make a carved image overlaid with silver. So now I’m giving it back to you.”
4 But he returned the money to his mother, and she took 200 pieces of silver and gave them to the metalworker, who made a carved image overlaid with silver which was put in Mikhay’hu’s house.
5 This man Mikhah owned a house of God; so he made a ritual vest and household gods and consecrated one of his sons, who became hiscohen.
6 At that time there was no king in Isra’el; a man simply did whatever he thought was right.
7 There was a young man from Beit-Lechem in Y’hudah, from the family of Y’hudah, who was aLevi.He had been staying
8 in Beit-Lechem, but he left there to find another place to live and came to the hills of Efrayim, where eventually he made his way to the house of Mikhah.
9 Mikhah asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He answered, “I am aLevifrom Beit-Lechem in Y’hudah, and I’m looking for a place to live.”
10 Mikhah replied, “Stay with me, and be a father andcohenfor me; I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, in addition to your clothing and food.” So theLeviwent in
11 and agreed to stay with the man; the young man became like one of his sons.
12 After Mikhah consecrated theLevi, the young man became hiscohenand stayed there in Mikhah’s house.
13 Mikhah said, “Now I know thatAdonaiwill treat me well, because I have aLevifor acohen.