17 They sacrificed(A) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens(B) and sold(C) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.(D) Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.(E) 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,(F) until he thrust them from his presence.(G)

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29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns(A) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines(B) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.(C) 30 The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek(D) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.(E) 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts(F) of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

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40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,(A) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

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