22. " ' "But I kept myself from punishing them at that time. I wanted my name to be honored. So I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations. They had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.
23. " ' "I also raised my hand and took an oath in the desert. I told my people I would scatter them among the nations. I would send them to other countries.
24. They had not obeyed my laws. They had turned their backs on my rules. They had misused my Sabbaths. Their eyes longed to see the statues of their parents' gods.
25. " ' "I even let them follow rules that were not good. I let them have laws they could not live by.
26. I let them become polluted by offering sacrifices to other gods. They even sacrificed the first male child who was born in each family. I wanted to fill them with horror. Then they would know that I am the Lord." '
27. "Son of man, speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "Your people spoke evil things against me long ago. They deserted me.
28. But I brought them into the land. I had taken an oath and promised to give the land to them. Then they offered sacrifices that made me very angry. They did it on every high hill and under every green tree. There they brought their sweet-smelling incense. And there they poured out their drink offerings.
29. Then I said to them, 'What? You are going to a high place?' " ' " That high place is called Bamah to this very day.
30. The Lord said to me, "Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "Are you going to pollute yourselves the way your people did? Do you long to see the statues of their evil gods?