And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
And there they burned incense at all the worship sites on hills and mountains, just like the pagan nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did evil things that made the LORD angry.
This verse describes how the Israelites copied the forbidden religious practices of the nations God had removed from the land, making God angry with their disobedience.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was facing invasion from the Assyrian Empire due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's laws. The people had abandoned proper worship at the Temple in Jerusalem, instead burning incense at high places and mimicking the pagan rituals of nations that God had previously judged and exiled. This behavior directly contributed to their downfall, as it provoked God's anger and led to their conquest and scattering.
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