¹⁷ The five spies went into the house and took the ·idol [carved image], the ·holy vest [ephod], the household idols, and the ·statue [cast-metal image]. The priest and the six hundred men armed ·for [^Lwith weapons of] war stood by the entrance gate.

¹⁸ When the spies went into Micah’s house and took the [carved] image, the ·holy vest [ephod], the household idols, and the ·statue [cast-metal image], the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”

¹⁹ They answered, “Be quiet! ·Don’t say a word [^LPut your hand over your mouth]. Come with us and be our father [^Cmeaning an advisor or counselor; 17:10; Gen. 45:8] and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man’s house or for a tribe and ·family group [clan] in Israel?”