Why Israel Fell

⁷ This disaster happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt^(A) and because they had worshiped^[a] other gods.^{(B) 8} They had lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites^(C) and the customs the kings of Israel had introduced.^{(D) 9} The Israelites secretly did what was not right^[b] against the Lord their God. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower^(E) to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves sacred pillars^(F) and Asherah poles^(G) on every high hill and under every green tree.^{(H) 11} They burned incense on all the high places just like those nations that the Lord had driven out before them. They did evil things, provoking the Lord. ¹² They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.”^{(I) 13} Still, the Lord warned^(J) Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commands and statutes according to all the law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through My servants the prophets.”^(K)

¹⁴ But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like^[c] their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God.^{(L) 15} They rejected His statutes and His covenant He had made with their ancestors^(M) and the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves,^(N) following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate.^(O)

¹⁶ They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images^(P) for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole.^(Q) They worshiped the whole heavenly host^(R) and served Baal.^{(S) 17} They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire^(T) and practiced divination and interpreted omens.^(U) They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and provoked Him.^(V)

¹⁸ Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence.^(W) Only the tribe of Judah remained.^(X)