Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 18:31
And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
31. This verse is clearly not by the same hand as the foregoing.
the house of God in Shiloh ] Not a tabernacle, or moveable tent, but a temple; see 1Sa 1:7; 1Sa 1:24; 1Sa 3:15. We are not told when the temple in Shiloh came to an end; was it when the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4? In the time of Saul the descendants of Eli are found not at Shiloh, but at Nob, ib. Jdg 21:2 ff. Or was it during the Assyrian wars? The allusions in Jer 7:12; Jer 7:14; Jer 26:6; Jer 26:9 suggest a comparatively recent and well-remembered disaster. At any rate the writer does not say that the Danite shrine disappeared when the temple in Shiloh came to an end; what he means is that the local cult existed side by side with the national sanctuary. Cf. further 1Ki 12:29 f., Amo 8:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made,…. Which is repeated for the sake of the time of its continuance next expressed:
all the time the house of God was in Shiloh; which, according to some Jewish writers g, was three hundred and sixty years; that is, so long as the tabernacle was there, which was afterwards removed to Nob.
g Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim, c. 14. sect. 6. & Bartenora in ib. sect. 7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(31) And they set them up Micahs graven image.Rather, entrusted to them, i.e., to Jonathans descendants. The phrase set them up can only have been used by inadvertence by our translators in this verse, since the verb used, yasmo (LXX., etaxan heautois; but Vulg., mansitque apud eos, i.e., there remained with them the descendants of Jonathan), is wholly different from the verb yakm, rendered set up (LXX., anestsan) in Jdg. 18:30.
All the time that the house of God was in Shilohi.e., till Samuels early manhood, when the Philistines sacked Shiloh, to which place the Ark and Tabernacle never returned (1Sa. 4:3, 1Sa. 6:21, 1Sa. 7:1). This verse may probably have been added by a later hand to prevent any mistake in the interpretation of the former. It may have been written in Sauls reign, when the Tabernacle and ephod had been removed to Nob for greater safety. The last mention of the town of Dan is in 2Ch. 16:4
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
31. All the time that the house of God was in Shiloh This statement confirms our view in the last note, that the captivity of the land was that which followed the capture of the ark, and the consequent desolation of Shiloh. About the same time, it would seem, the Danite sanctuary in which the sons of Jonathan the Levite ministered was also made desolate. It had probably stood more than a hundred years.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
BEHOLD my soul! what dreadful effects the fall of man and his apostacy from God, hath wrought in the human heart. Behold! how general and even universal that apostacy is by nature. Well might the Prophet, contemplating the horrid picture, confess; all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way. For though the different tracks, the different characters of men take lead into various bye paths; yet the bias and direction of every man’s mind, in a state of nature, is all turning from God. And how very dear ought that rich dipensation of mercy which sought us in our lost estate to be, which brings back sinners from the error of their way, and turns them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the living God.
Precious Jesus! may it my portion to learn from hence, how much I owe to thee and to thy rich mercy, who, when running after the idols of my sinful heart, came and delivered me from this dreadful captivity. And no less to thy mercy, heavenly Father, do I desire to ascribe the great salvation, whose everlasting love made such ample provision for my recovery, in the complete redemption of thy dear Son! And thou Almighty Spirit, from whose effectual teaching, and in thy glorifying both the Father’s love and Jesus’ grace to my view, I am brought over from the dominion of Satan, and made willing to be saved in Jesus, in the day of thy power! Lord, let the cry of my heart evermore be like that of Ephraim, What have I anymore to do with idols! In the Lord Jesus do I desire to rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness to make my boast. Thou art my God, and I will prepare thee an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt thee.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 18:31 And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Ver. 31. All the time, &c, ] Till Samuel threw down this and other idols. 1Sa 7:3
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the house Of God: i.e. the Tabernacle of Moses, but not recognized as the house of Jehovah, the Covenant God.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all the time: Jdg 19:18, Jdg 21:21, Jos 18:1, 1Sa 1:3, 1Sa 4:4, Jer 7:12
Reciprocal: Gen 31:19 – images Jdg 20:18 – house of Act 7:45 – Which