And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [shekels] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
Ver. 10. Be unto me a father and a priest,] As a father he would respect him, though but a young man, because a priest. The Papists' respect to their hedge priests, under the name of padres, fathers, will rise up in judgment against us.
And I will give thee ten shekels of silver, &c] A poor slender salary. This man had eleven hundred pieces of silver to bestow upon his idols, but ten shekels is held wages enough for his priest. So Louis XI of France allowed his chaplains twenty shillings a month: but for his physician, a one John Cotiers, he allowed him ten thousand crowns a month. In Ireland formerly ministers had no more maintenance than the pasture of two milk cowes, &c. In the whole province of Connaught, the stipend of the incumbent was not above forty shillings, in some places but sixteen shillings. b Now, blessed be God, the matter is well amended there, and very good encouragement promised to preachers that shall go over, Stipendia honoraria, with an honourable respect.
So the Levite went in.] Graeculus esuriens. Hunger will snap at anything, where there is not grace to restrain men.
a [Barber; Cottier, p. 348.]
b Heyl., Geog.