The accusation that the people provoke YHWH to anger by sacrificing to idols in gardens and burning incense on altars of brick indicates continued syncretistic practices. The specific mention of gardens and brick altars suggests organized non-YHWISTIC religious practice. The provocation of divine anger through idolatry establishes that defection from exclusive covenant is the core offense. This verse returns to the critique of false religion: the community's problem is not merely political or social but fundamentally religious. The indictment prepares for the eschatological judgment to follow.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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