Judges 18:18-21

18:18 When these men broke into Micah’s house and stole ¹  the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 18:19 They said to him, “Shut up! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us! You can be our adviser ²  and priest. Wouldn’t it be better to be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for just one man’s family?” ³  18:20 The priest was happy. He took the ephod, the personal idols, and the carved image and joined the group. ⁴ 

18:21 They turned and went on their way, but they walked behind the children, the cattle, and their possessions. ⁵ 

[18:18]  ¹ tn Heb “These went into Micah’s house and took.”

[18:19]  ² tn See the note on the word “adviser” in 17:10.

[18:19]  ³ tn Heb “Is it better for you to be priest for the house of one man or for you to be priest for a tribe, for a clan in Israel?”

[18:20]  ³ tn Heb “and went into the midst of the people.”

[18:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “They turned and went and put the children, the cattle, and the possessions in front of them.”