israelites who followed after the ways of foreigners were considered to be sinning or in apostasy. israelites were not called by god to do sacrifices to mlk and likely you know that. do you get that some of the people followed the traditions of others or of those who they were among when they were in exile whether among the babylonians or egyptians? even the people coming out of egypt under moses had issues (golden calf--but those practices were already among other cultures). even with lot and wife his wife 'turned back' which can signify that she fell back into problematic ways rather than leaving it behind. seems to me since the israelites were to be instrumental in the rescue or redemption of mankind they had to be free from the untoward or idolatrous ways of a world smothered in sin and darkness. look at how many embrace sun worship despite ezekiel 8 and other clear prohibitions. its not that the wayward israelites created it ..it was going on around them or in the world already.
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