This section of Judges is not chronological with the first 16 chapters. Most scholars believe that this is simply events and information to prove how unholy and distracted the people of Israel had become.
I also found it interesting that Judges covers about 324 years from start to finish.
The key verse in these two chapters as far as I can tell is 17:6 where it says, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. The people apparently all went their own way after Joshua and the elders died. Even during the rescues from the Judges earlier in the book you get the sense that it is only parts of Israel that turn back to God.
This whole episode with the idol and the priest were another powerful example of how far the people had walked away from God's way of doing things. They substituted the idea of religion for obedience. They thought that if they worshipped at all God would be pleased with them. God is not pleased with religion for religion's sake. He is looking for true worship through obedience to Him. Sincerity in disobedience is not a higher goal than obedience out of love.
Love, Michael
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