Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
Because they have abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the people of Sidon, Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, and Milcom, the god of the Ammonites. They have not followed my ways or done what is right in my sight, and they have not kept my laws and commands like David his father did.
God is explaining why He's punishing Israel - because they turned away from Him to worship false gods and stopped following His ways, unlike King David who remained faithful.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes during God's judgment on King Solomon, who had allowed foreign wives to influence him toward idol worship. The Zidonians, Moabites, and Ammonites were neighboring nations with their own gods, and Solomon had built places of worship for these foreign deities to please his wives. This marked a dramatic departure from the exclusive worship of the Lord that had characterized David's reign.
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