Micah’s Idolatry: With the completion of the Samson cycle we also have completed the second major section of the book of Judges (3:7–16:31). This central core section is framed by two others, an introduction (1:1–3:6) and an epilogue (17:1–21:25); and as the introduction divides neatly into two parts (1:1–2:6; 2:7–3:6), so does the epilogue (17:1–18:31; 19:1–21:35). The epilogue does not evidence the recurring refrain that characterized the accounts of the major judges. In fact, there is no mention of judges. Instead, the stories are clustered around a different refrain: “In those days, there was no king in Israel, what was right in each person’s eyes, he/she did” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). I have translated very literally from the Hebrew to indicate where the emphasis lies: “no king” and …