Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
You must not worship the LORD your God in the same way they worship their gods, because they do terrible things that the LORD hates when they worship their gods. They even burn their own sons and daughters alive as sacrifices to their gods.
God is telling His people that they must never copy the horrific worship practices of pagan nations, especially child sacrifice, which He absolutely hates.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is instructing the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, warning them against adopting the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations like the Canaanites. These peoples performed detestable rituals, including child sacrifice, to honor their gods, which directly opposed God's holy commands. This verse emphasizes that true worship of the Lord must be pure and distinct from such abominations.
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