This is what the Lord says: What fault did your ancestors find in me that they went so far from me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
Now what will you gain by travelling along the way to Egypt to drink the water of the Nile? What will you gain by travelling along the way to Assyria to drink the water of the Euphrates?
The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he declared, ‘Because this nation has violated my covenant that I made with their ancestors and disobeyed me,
You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God is delivering over to you and not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
For the time has come for judgement to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
the Lord sent a prophet to them. He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: “I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery.
Gideon made an ephod from all this and put it in Ophrah, his home town. Then all Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.