“And what have I more?”
The full verse · Judges 18:24 · KJV
And he , Ye have taken my which I , and the , and ye are gone : and what have I more? and what is this that ye unto me, What aileth thee?
Asked by
Asked to
The six hundred armed men of the Danite tribe, along with the five spies who had previously scouted Micah’s shrine.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionMicah challenges the absurdity of the Danites’ feigned innocence after their deliberate theft. By questioning their question, he exposes their mockery and forces recognition of the obvious connection between his distress and their actions.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe Danites did not answer Micah’s challenge but instead issued a direct threat, warning him not to raise his voice lest angry men attack and kill his entire household (Judges 18:25). Recognizing he was overpowered, Micah turned back home (Judges 18:26).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyMicah’s second question challenges the Danites’ pretended ignorance with devastating logic. The interrogative construction, how then do you ask, exposes their mocking inquiry as theater. They knew exactly what troubled Micah since they had orchestrated his loss. By questioning their question, Micah strips away their false innocence and forces confrontation with the obvious causation. The rhetorical form makes their cruelty more visible: not only did they steal his shrine, but they added insult by feigning surprise at his distress. This double violation, theft plus mockery, intensifies the injustice of the entire encounter.
Ever been hurt by someone who then acts surprised that you’re upset? Micah’s challenge names a common manipulation: perpetrators feigning innocence while victims suffer obvious harm. Whether in relationships, workplaces, or churches, this tactic shifts blame and silences legitimate grievance. Micah’s response models the first step, naming the obvious connection between action and harm. Yet he also knew when to withdraw from an unwinnable confrontation. Jesus taught both truth-telling and wise retreat (Matthew 10:23). When facing those who mock your pain while causing it, speak the truth clearly, then entrust both justice and vindication to God who sees all and judges righteously (Romans 12:19).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“What do ye?”
“What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?”
“Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image?”
“Is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?”