Judges 17:2

Micah openly addresses his mother’s stolen fortune when he says: *“The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse in my hearing, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.”* (v.2). This event takes place during the time of the judges, a period estimated between approximately 1370–1050 BC after Israel had settled in the Promised Land, but before the establishment of the monarchy. The confession reveals that Micah was the one who stole the 1,100 pieces of silver, a significant amount of wealth at the time, and that he did so despite having heard his mother’s curse upon the thief. The region itself, the hill country of Ephraim, lies north of Jerusalem and was known for its rugged terrain and scattered Israelite settlements.

Significantly, the mother’s reaction turns from a curse to a blessing: *“Blessed be my son by the LORD.”* (v.2). This sudden shift gives us a glimpse into the moral climate of the era. The Book of Judges often highlights times when “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 NASB-95), indicating that spiritual confusion was prevalent. In contrast, her blessing acknowledges the LORD while embracing her son despite his wrongdoing. The interplay of curse and blessing can mirror how confession and repentance function in other parts of Scripture, where God is merciful to those who admit their wrongs (1 John 1:9 NASB-95). In the mother’s statement of blessing, there may also be a foreshadowing of the grace ultimately displayed through Jesus Christ, who takes curses upon Himself and offers blessings in return (Galatians 3:13 NASB-95).

Micah’s admission also sets up the following narrative, where the silver will be turned into an idol, revealing the broader issue of misplaced worship in Israel. The transition from theft to confession, from curse to blessing, underscores God’s consistent desire for the hearts of His people to acknowledge wrongdoing and receive grace. Although Micah’s action is sinful, his willingness to confess at least demonstrates a measure of honesty, providing a window into how God’s people struggled—and sometimes succeeded—in doing what is right, even in an age of moral ambiguity.

Micah’s confession and his mother’s blessing show how quickly fear and anger can turn to grace when a wrong is admitted.