1 Now there was a man from the hill country {har: elevated region} of Ephraim, and his name {shem: personal identity} was Micah.
2 And he said to his mother, “The one thousand one hundred pieces of silver {kesef: precious metal} that were taken from you—and though I was present you uttered a curse and also spoke in my hearing—behold, the silver is with me; I am the one who took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD {YHWH, Blessing Giver}!”
3 And he returned the one thousand one hundred pieces of silver to his mother. Then his mother said, “Dedicating I have dedicated the silver to the LORD {YHWH, Sole Recipient} from my hand for my son to make an image {pesel: carved idol} and a cast idol. Now I will return it to you.”
4 So he returned the silver to his mother. Then his mother {immo: Maternal Kin} took two hundred pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a cast idol. And it was in the house of Micah {Mikhayehu: Who is like YHWH}.
5 And the man Micah had a house {beit: private shrine} of gods {Elohim: objects of worship}, and he made an ephod and household gods, and he consecrated the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.
6 In those days there was no king {melekh: political ruler} in Israel; each man did what was right {hayashar: upright standard} in his own eyes.
7 And there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, from the clan of Judah. He was a Levite {levi: priestly tribe member}, and he was staying {gar: resident alien} there.
8 And the man went from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn {lagur: dwell temporarily} wherever he might find, and as he went on his way {darko: travel progress} he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah.
9 And Micah asked him, “From where do you come?” And he replied, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem {beit lehem: house of bread} in Judah, and I am going to sojourn {lagur: dwell temporarily} wherever I may find.”
10 And Micah said to him, “Dwell {shevah: remain here} with me and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver each year, a set {erekh: standard provision} of clothing and your sustenance.” And the Levite went.
11 So the Levite {haLevi: member of Levitical tribe} consented to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him {lo: in his household} like one of his sons.
12 And Micah installed {male: ceremonial designation} the Levite {levi: hereditary minister}, and the young man became his priest, and he was in the house of Micah.
13 And Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD {YHWH, Gracious Bestower} will do good to me because the Levite {halevi: tribe set apart} has become my priest.”