In their degradation Israel became chaotic in three ways: in government, in worship, and in morality. Although God’s tabernacle was at Shiloh (Judg. 18:31) and the high priest had the Urim and Thummim (see note Exo. 28:30¹ in ), there was no government, no administration, in Israel because Israel had annulled God and His status as their King (cf. 1 Sam. 8). Therefore, the children of Israel did what was right in their own eyes, and as a result they became rotten and corrupted. See note Judg. 1:1¹.

Lit., filled the hands of. So also in v. 12.

The house of Micah as a house of gods, with its idols (as replacements of Christ), its ephod (representing the authority of God), and its hired priest (representing the clergy-laity system — vv. 7-13 see note Rev. 2:6^1a), portrays the chaotic situation related to the worship of God among Christians today.

Micah’s mother offered something to God, but her offering to God was mixed with the leaven of idolatry (cf. Matt. 13:33 and notes).