שופטים, פרק י״ז, פסוק ג׳

A dramatic moment of confession between a son and his mother unexpectedly lays the groundwork for a tragic descent into idolatry. The son approaches his mother to return the exact sum of eleven hundred pieces of silver that he had previously stolen from her [רש״י, אברבנאל]. This immediate restoration of the stolen goods suggests that at this early stage he still possessed a fear of God and genuinely wished to correct his wrongdoing [מלבי״ם, חומת אנך]. Upon receiving the funds, the mother reveals a vow she had made while the silver was missing, explaining that she had dedicated the lost money to God upon its safe return [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Ironically, her dedication involved the creation of an idol. Nevertheless, because her vow was directed toward God, even in error, His name spoken in her oath retains its sanctity [מנחת שי]. Her underlying intention was not to engage in literal idol worship, but rather to craft a physical medium that could channel heavenly forces and predict the future [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג].

The specific sum of eleven hundred pieces of silver carries a dark resonance. Although this is the exact amount later given to Delilah, there is no historical connection between the two women, as these events occurred long before the era of Samson. Instead, the matching numbers serve to emphasize that both instances involved tainted money that ultimately brought about disaster [רש״י]. The mother outlines the conditions of her vow, intending for the silver to pass directly from her hands to her son, appointing him as the treasurer over the project [רש״י, מלבי״ם]. She specifically wanted him to perform this act of dedication himself, believing that participating in this perceived religious duty would bring atonement for his sin of theft [חומת אנך]. Her plan required the creation of two distinct objects, a figure carved by hand and a second image formed from molten metal [מצודת ציון].

With the money safely recovered, the mother hands the silver back to her son so he can execute her plan [מצודת דוד]. However, a sudden shift occurs in the narrative. Realizing the severe nature of crafting an idol, the son refuses to participate in the sin. He hands the money back to his mother a second time, effectively telling her she can do as she wishes but he will have no part in the matter [רד״ק, אברבנאל, חומת אנך]. Ultimately, out of the eleven hundred pieces of silver, only two hundred are given to a silversmith. The commentators offer different explanations for the fate of the remaining funds. One approach suggests that the two hundred pieces merely covered the craftsman's wages, while the remaining nine hundred were melted down to cast the idol itself [רד״ק]. Conversely, another perspective argues that once the money was back in the mother's possession, greed took over. Breaking her original vow, she separated only two hundred pieces for the idol and kept the rest of the silver hidden away in her home [אברבנאל].