Judg 17:1 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Judg 17:1-21:25: 17:1–21:25 These two epilogues (chs 17–18 and chs 19–21 ) attest that inspired but unstructured leadership cannot endure. During the relentless march toward social disintegration and civil war, the refrain, “In those days Israel had no king,” occurs four times, and “all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” is added twice (17:6 ; 18:1 ; 19:1 ; 21:25 ). The era of inspired leadership spiraled downward and culminated in chaos. Something was clearly missing. 17:1 Micah is the short form of a name that means “Who is like the Lord ?” The name highlights the contrast between the Lord and a carved image or cast idol. • The hill country of Ephraim was a natural gathering place in central Israel (17:7-8 ; 18:2 , 13 ; 19:1 , 16 ).

a17:1–21:25►

b17–18►

c19–21►

d17:6►

e18:1►

f19:1►

g21:25►

h17:1►

i17:7-8►

j18:2►

k13►

l19:1►

m16►

‏ Judges 17:1

Summary for Judg 17:1-21:25: 17:1–21:25 ^a These two epilogues (chs 17–18 ^b and chs 19–21 ^c) attest that inspired but unstructured leadership cannot endure. During the relentless march toward social disintegration and civil war, the refrain, “In those days Israel had no king,” occurs four times, and “all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” is added twice (17:6 ^d; 18:1 ^e; 19:1 ^f; 21:25 ^g). The era of inspired leadership spiraled downward and culminated in chaos. Something was clearly missing. 17:1 ^h Micah is the short form of a name that means “Who is like the Lord?” The name highlights the contrast between the Lord and a carved image or cast idol.

• The hill country of Ephraim was a natural gathering place in central Israel (17:7-8 ⁱ; 18:2 ^j, 13 ^k; 19:1 ^l, 16 ^m).