INTRODUCTION: In this lesson, a false religion is born. It is born of greed and opportunism. It mixes some elements of true religion with rank idolatry. It is a malady of those who have left the true teachings of the word far behind. God’s people always need to beware of the mixing of truth and error.

1. MICAH MAKES A HOUSE OF GODS (Judges 17:1-6 [1] And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. [2] And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son. [3] And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. [4] Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. [5] And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. [6] In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
   See All...)
1. Micah Restores the Stolen Money (Judges 17:1-2 [1] And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. [2] And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
   See All...).
1. He lives in mount Ephraim (Judges 17:1And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
   See All...).
2. He had stolen 1100 shekels of silver (Judges 17:2And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
   See All...; compare Judges 16:5And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
   See All...). To understand the value of this silver, consider that the Levite agrees to ten shekels of silver a year as his salary (Judges 17:10And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
   See All...).
3. His mother had cursed concerning the theft (Judges 17:2And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
   See All...).
4. He admits his theft to his mother (Judges 17:2And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
   See All...).
5. He receives a blessing from his mother (Judges 17:2And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
   See All...). As a rule, curses in the Old Testament cannot be removed by a blessing (Genesis 27:33-35 [33] And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. [34] And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. [35] And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
   See All...).
2. Micah’s Mother Makes Images (Judges 17:3-4 [3] And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. [4] Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
   See All...).
1. His mother had dedicated the silver to the Lord (Judges 17:3And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
   See All...).
2. She offers to give it unto Micah (Judges 17:3And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
   See All...).
3. Micah insists on restoring the money (Judges 17:4Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
   See All...).
4. His mother makes two images with 200 shekels (Judges 17:4Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
   See All...). What happened to the other 900 shekels?
1. A graven image (carved out of wood, etc.)
2. A molten image (formed from molten metal)
3. Micah Establishes a False Religion (Judges 17:5-6 [5] And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. [6] In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
   See All...).
1. He makes a house of gods (Judges 17:5And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
   See All...).
2. He makes an ephod (Judges 17:5And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
   See All...).
3. He makes teraphim (Judges 17:5And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
   See All...); human-shaped images, often quite small.
4. He makes a priest of one of his sons (Judges 17:5And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
   See All...).
5. He does right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
   See All...).
2. MICAH TAKES A LEVITE AS PRIEST (Judges 17:7-13 [7] And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. [8] And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. [9] And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place. [10] And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. [11] And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. [12] And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. [13] Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
   See All...)
1. A Levite Seeks a Place (Judges 17:7-8 [7] And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. [8] And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
   See All...).
1. He wanders from Bethlehem-judah (Judges 17:7And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
   See All...).
2. He seeks to find a place (Judges 17:8And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
   See All...).
3. He journeys to mount Ephraim (Judges 17:8And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
   See All...).
2. Micah Makes the Levite an Offer (Judges 17:9-10 [9] And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place. [10] And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
   See All...).
1. Micah questions the Levite (Judges 17:9And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
   See All...).
2. Micah offers him a position (Judges 17:10And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
   See All...).
1. A place to dwell
2. A position as father and priest (see Matthew 23:9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
   See All...)
3. An income of ten shekels of silver a year
4. A suit of apparel
5. A supply of food
3. The Levite Stays with Micah (Judges 17:11-13 [11] And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. [12] And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. [13] Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
   See All...).
1. The Levite accepts the offer (Judges 17:11And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.
   See All...).
2. Micah consecrates him as priest (Judges 17:12And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
   See All...).
3. Micah expects the Lord to bless his choice (Judges 17:13Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
   See All...); similar to Israel expecting victory because they brought out the ark of God (1 Samuel 4:3-7 [3] And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. [4] So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. [5] And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. [6] And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. [7] And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
   See All...).
3. THE DANITES SEEK A NEW INHERITANCE (Judges 18:1-10 [1] In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. [2] And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there. [3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? [4] And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. [5] And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. [6] And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go. [7] Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. [8] And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye? [9] And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. [10] When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
   See All...)
1. They Send Spies to the North (Judges 18:1-2 [1] In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. [2] And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
   See All...).
1. To seek a new inheritance (Judges 18:1In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
   See All...)
2. Five men of valor (Judges 18:2And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
   See All...)
3. To the house of Micah (Judges 18:2And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
   See All...)
2. The Spies Are Blessed by Micah’s Priest (Judges 18:3-6 [3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? [4] And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. [5] And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous. [6] And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
   See All...).
1. They recognize the voice of the Levite (Judges 18:3When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
   See All...).
2. The Levite explains his position (Judges 18:3-4 [3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? [4] And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
   See All...).
3. The Danites ask counsel of the Levite (Judges 18:5And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
   See All...).
4. The Levite sends them in peace (Judges 18:6And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
   See All...).
3. The Spies Discover the City of Laish (Judges 18:7-10 [7] Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. [8] And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye? [9] And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. [10] When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
   See All...).
1. They find the quiet people of Laish (Judges 18:7Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
   See All...).
2. They bring good report to their brethren (Judges 18:8-10 [8] And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye? [9] And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. [10] When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
   See All...).
4. THE DANITES STEAL MICAH’S GODS (Judges 18:11-26 [11] And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. [12] And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim. [13] And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah. [14] Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do. [15] And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him. [16] And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. [17] And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. [18] And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? [19] And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? [20] And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. [21] So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. [22] And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. [23] And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? [24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? [25] And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. [26] And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
   See All...)
1. They Come to Mount Ephraim (Judges 18:11-13 [11] And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war. [12] And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim. [13] And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
   See All...).
1. With 600 men of war (Judges 18:11And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
   See All...)
2. They pitch in Kirjath-jearim (Judges 18:12And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
   See All...).
3. They come to the house of Micah (Judges 18:13And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
   See All...).
2. They Take the Gods of Micah (Judges 18:14-18 [14] Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do. [15] And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him. [16] And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. [17] And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. [18] And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
   See All...).
1. The allure of Micah’s gods (Judges 18:14Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
   See All...)
2. They approach the house of the Levite (Judges 18:15-16 [15] And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him. [16] And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
   See All...).
3. They steal the gods of Micah (Judges 18:17-18 [17] And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. [18] And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
   See All...).
3. They Take the Levite To Be Their Priest (Judges 18:19-21 [19] And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? [20] And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. [21] So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
   See All...).
1. They offer the Levite a better deal (Judges 18:19And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
   See All...).
2. The Levite goes with them (Judges 18:20And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
   See All...).
3. They put their children and cattle in safety (Judges 18:21So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
   See All...).
4. They Repel Micah with Threats (Judges 18:22-26 [22] And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan. [23] And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? [24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee? [25] And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household. [26] And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
   See All...).
1. Micah pursues after the Danites (Judges 18:22And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
   See All...).
2. Micah accuses them of stealing his gods (Judges 18:23-24 [23] And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company? [24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
   See All...).
3. The Danites threaten Micah and his family (Judges 18:25And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
   See All...).
4. Micah fails to recover his gods (Judges 18:26And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
   See All...).
5. THE DANITES TAKE LAISH IN THE NORTH (Judges 18:27-31 [27] And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire. [28] And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. [29] And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first. [30] And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. [31] And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
   See All...)
1. They Defeated the City of Laish (Judges 18:27And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
   See All...).
1. They found Laish quiet and secure.
2. They smote the city with the sword and burned it with fire.
2. They Built the City of Dan (Judges 18:28-29 [28] And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. [29] And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
   See All...).
1. They found it a place of safety (Judges 18:28And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
   See All...).
2. They built a city and gave it the name Dan (Judges 18:28-29 [28] And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein. [29] And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
   See All...).
3. They Set Up the Graven Image (Judges 18:30-31 [30] And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. [31] And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
   See All...).
1. They set up the image and establish Jonathan’s priesthood (Judges 18:30And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
   See All...).
2. They rival the true tabernacle in Shiloh (Judges 18:31And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 1:9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
   See All...).

CONCLUSION: The children of Israel continue to mix pure religion with idolatry. They have “a form of godliness,” (2 Timothy 3:5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
See All...) but deny the power thereof.