The Lord says,“ O Israel, when I first found you, it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert. When I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season. But then they deserted me for Baal peor, giving themselves to that shameful idol. Soon they became vile, as vile as the god they worshiped.
Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead!They angered the Lord with all these things, so a plague broke out among them.
The wonderful possession I have reserved for you will slip from your hands. I will tell your enemies to take you as captives to a foreign land. For my anger blazes like a fire that will burn forever.”
So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said,“ Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,
“ You saw for yourself what the Lord did to you at Baal peor. There the Lord your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped Baal, the god of Peor.But all of you who were faithful to the Lord your God are still alive today— every one of you.
This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.