Micheas of Ephraim

Micheas of Ephraim

Also called Michas. In Hebrew the complete form of the name is Mikhayahu or Mikhayehu (contracted into Mikhehu? II Chronicles 18:8, kethibh) or Mikhayah (who is like Yahu, Yehu, Yah?); the shortened form is Mikhah.

The Book of Judges (17-18) contains the history of a certain Michas (Hebrews 17:1 and 4: Mikhayehu; elsewhere Mikhah), a resident of the hill country of Ephraim who founded an idolatrous sanctuary. As he restored to his mother the 1100 pieces of silver which he had stolen from her, she devoted 200 wherewith to make an idol which was set up in the house of Michas. In addition, Michas made an ephod and teraphim. He first appointed as priest his son, but afterwards engaged a Levite of Bethlehem, Jonathan, a descendant of Moses by Gersan. The Danites, passing by whilst on a migration, took with them the Levite Jonathan and the objects of the idolatrous worship belonging to Michas, in spite of the latter's protests, and set them up in the sanctuary which they established in the town of Dan, so called after their name.

A. VAN HOONACKER