The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city(A) they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones(B) and Asherah poles(C) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.(D) 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols,(E) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[a] 13 The Lord warned(F) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:(G) “Turn from your evil ways.(H) Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 17:12 Exodus 20:4,5

The high places(A) of wickedness[a](B) will be destroyed—
    it is the sin of Israel.
Thorns(C) and thistles will grow up
    and cover their altars.(D)
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”(E)
    and to the hills, “Fall on us!”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:8 Hebrew aven, a reference to Beth Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel); see verse 5.

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