²⁴ because they had not obeyed my ·laws [judgments]. They had rejected my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·dishonored [profaned; ^Critually] my Sabbaths and ·worshiped [^Lset their eyes on] the idols of their ·parents [fathers]. ²⁵ I also allowed them to follow ·rules [statutes] that were not good and ·laws [judgments] by which they could not live. ²⁶ I ·let the Israelites make themselves unclean [^Ldefiled them; ^Critually] by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire [16:20–21]. I wanted to ·terrify [or devastate] them so they would know that I am the Lord.’