So the sonsof Israelremovedthe Baalsand the Ashtarothand servedthe LORDalone.
becausethey have forsakenMe, and have worshipedAshtoreththe goddessof the Sidonians,Chemoshthe godof Moab,and Milcomthe godof the sonsof Ammon;and they have not walkedin My ways,doingwhatis rightin My sightand [observing] My statutesand My ordinances,as his fatherDavid[did].
For SolomonwentafterAshtoreththe goddessof the Sidoniansand afterMilcomthe detestableidolof the Ammonites.
if they returnto You with alltheir heartand with alltheir soulin the landof their enemieswhohave takenthem captive,and prayto You towardtheir landwhichYou have givento their fathers,the citywhichYou have chosen,and the housewhichI have builtfor Your name;
Furthermore,the altarthat [was] at Bethel[and] the highplacewhichJeroboamthe sonof Nebat,whomade Israelsin,had made,eventhat altarand the highplacehe brokedown.Then he demolishedits stones, groundthem to dust,and burnedthe Asherah.
"Assyriawill not saveus, We will not rideon horses;Norwill we sayagain,Our god,'To the workof our hands;For in You the orphanfindsmercy."
O Ephraim,whatmorehave I to do with idols?It is I who answerand lookafter you. I am like a luxuriantcypress;From Me comesyour fruit.
Then the sonsof Israeldidevilin the sightof the LORDand servedthe Baals,
So they forsookthe LORDand servedBaaland the Ashtaroth.
Then Samuelspoketo allthe houseof Israel,saying,"Ifyou returnto the LORDwith allyour heart,removethe foreigngodsand the Ashtarothfrom amongyou and directyour heartsto the LORDand serveHim alone;and He will deliveryou from the handof the Philistines."
Then Samuelsaid,"GatherallIsraelto Mizpahand I will prayto the LORDfor you."
