2 Kings 17:8-20

8They also 12followed the 3customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from the sons of Israel, and in the customs 4of the kings of Israel which they had 5introduced. 9And the sons of Israel 6did things secretly against the Lord their God which were not right. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from 7watchtower to fortified city. 10And 8they set up for themselves memorial stones and 910Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did that the Lord had taken into exile before them; and they did evil things, provoking the Lord. 12They served idols, 11concerning which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” 13Yet the 12Lord warned Israel and Judah 1314through all His prophets and 15every seer, saying, “16Turn back from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you 17through My servants the prophets.” 14However, they did not listen, but 18stiffened their neck 19like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. 1520They rejected His statutes and 21His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings which He 22gave them. And 23they followed 24idols and 25became empty, and followed the nations that surrounded them, about which the 26Lord had commanded them not to do as they did. 16And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves cast metal images: 27two calves. And they 28made an 29Asherah, and 30worshiped all the heavenly 31lights, and 32served Baal. 17Then 33they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and they 34practiced divination and interpreting omens, and 35gave themselves over to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him. 18So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and He 36removed them from His 37sight; 38no one was left except the tribe of Judah.

1939Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God either, but they 4041followed the 42customs 43which Israel had 44introduced. 20So the Lord rejected all the 45descendants of Israel and afflicted them and 46handed them over to plunderers, until He had cast them 47out of His sight.