Chapter 17 starts a new section of the book. While chapters 2–16 of Judges describe the external threats to Israel that come from other nations (but as a result of their own sin), chapters 17–21 describes the internal chaos that results from their increasing depravity. Stealing from family. Household gods. Ongoing idolatry. Priests for hire. The most sordid and tragic stories in the book are found here, for the ultimate depths of Israel’s apostasy have now been reached.
Thought for the day: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes” led to chaos and despair, and we can see the same thing happening in society today.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (WEB) “But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.”
Amen!