Definition: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Judges 2:12. It’s a really important passage about turning away from God and causing trouble. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a group of people who completely abandoned their faith and turned to other gods. They were so focused on these new gods that they disobeyed God’s instructions and caused problems for the Israelites. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Judges 2:12” : This tells us where this happened – in a specific time period in ancient Israel’s history. It’s about a period of significant conflict and rebellion. “And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers…” This is the core of the problem. They stopped worshipping the God who had brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They were rejecting their original faith. Think of it like a deep, lasting decision to abandon something fundamental. “…of their fathers…” : This refers back to the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. It's a reminder that they had a special and sacred relationship with God before this point. They weren’t just any god; they were chosen by God to be free. “and followed other gods…” : They began worshipping other deities – gods made by humans. These gods weren't the same as the one God had promised them. “…of the gods of the people that [were] round about them…” : This is a bit more complicated. "Round about them" means they were popular and widespread, meaning these gods were widely accepted and followed by many people. They weren’t unique or special – they were just popular . “and bowed themselves unto them…” : This shows how their worship was now focused on these new gods; they were offering sacrifices to them and showing disrespect. “…and provoked the LORD to anger.” : Finally, God was angry with this group because they disobeyed his commands and caused trouble for the Israelites. It’s like a punishment for their disobedience. The Big Picture – Why is this important? This verse shows that when people turn away from God and embrace false gods, it leads to problems. It's a warning about the dangers of idolatry – worshiating idols instead of the true God. It highlights that true faith is about trusting in and obeying God’s will, not seeking out other gods. In short, this verse describes a tragic turning point where people chose to disobey their God and led to conflict and disaster. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of the verse in more detail? Connect this verse to a particular event or story from Bible history?