(31) And they set them up Micah's graven image.--Rather, entrusted to them, i.e., to Jonathan's descendants. The phrase "set them up" can only have been used by inadvertence by our translators in this verse, since the verb used, yasimo (LXX., etaxan heautois; but Vulg., mansitque apud eos, i.e., there remained with them the descendants of Jonathan), is wholly different from the verb yakim-, rendered "set up" (LXX., anestesan) in Judges 18:30.

All the time that the house of God was in Shiloh--i.e., till Samuel's early manhood, when the Philistines sacked Shiloh, to which place the Ark and Tabernacle never returned (1Samuel 4:3, 1Samuel 6:21, 1Samuel 7:1). This verse may probably have been added by a later hand to prevent any mistake in the interpretation of the former. It may have been written in Saul's reign, when the Tabernacle and ephod had been removed to Nob for greater safety. The last mention of the town of Dan is in 2Chronicles 16:4

17:7-13 Micah thought it was a sign of God's favour to him and his images, that a Levite should come to his door. Thus those who please themselves with their own delusions, if Providence unexpectedly bring any thing to their hands that further them in their evil way, are apt from thence to think that God is pleased with them.And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made,.... Which is repeated for the sake of the time of its continuance next expressed:

all the time the house of God was in Shiloh; which, according to some Jewish writers (g), was three hundred and sixty years; that is, so long as the tabernacle was there, which was afterwards removed to Nob.

(g) Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim, c. 14. sect. 6. & Bartenora in ib. sect. 7.