“Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth–aven, nor swear, The Lord liveth.”
The warning that though Israel plays the harlot, Judah must not become guilty, and that Israel must not enter Gilgal or go up to Beth-aven, articulates a distinction between the Northern Kingdom and Judah and warns against participation in the idolatrous worship sites. The reference to Gilgal and Beth-aven (Bethel) indicates specific northern sanctuaries that have become centers of idolatry, from which Judah must remain separated to avoid spiritual contamination. This warning to Judah suggests that the Northern Kingdom's apostasy is so profound and systematic that mere proximity to it creates spiritual danger, requiring deliberate separation and non-participation.
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