But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.
But you changed your minds and dishonored my name. You forced every servant and maid that you had freed to come back and serve you again as slaves.
God is condemning the people for breaking their promise to free their slaves and then forcing them back into slavery, which dishonored God's name.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred during the final siege of Jerusalem by Babylon around 587 BC. When the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew, the people of Jerusalem had made a covenant to free their Hebrew slaves as God's law required, but they broke this promise and re-enslaved them when they felt safe again. This covenant-breaking happened despite their earlier public commitment before God in the temple.
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