9 and they shall answer, 'Because they forsook Yahweh their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold of other gods, and worshiped them, and served them. Therefore Yahweh has brought all this evil on them.'"
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Have taken hold upon other gods - When an indigent person claims the protection of a superior, he casts himself down before him, and lays hold of his feet; and this expression is frequently used when there is no prostration: I have taken hold of thy feet. When a person is called into the presence of the Burman monarch, he is said to go to the golden foot. - Ward's Customs.
And they shall answer,.... Who were left in the land when others were carried captive, as were some by Nebuchadnezzar, and who were capable of making the following answer:
because they forsook the Lord; the worship of the Lord their God, as the Targum:
who brought forth their fathers out of the land Egypt; which is observed as an aggravation of their sin:
and have taken hold upon other gods: the gods of the people, as the Targum; of the Gentiles, who knew not the true God:
and have worshipped them, and served them: even idols of gold and silver, wood and stone; an instance of judicial blindness they were left unto, who had been favoured with a revelation from God:
therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil; their idolatry was the cause of it, than which nothing is more provoking to God.
*More commentary available at chapter level.