Deuteronomy 29:26
For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Israel's idolatry took multiple forms: Egyptian gods during exodus (Ezekiel 20:7-8), golden calf at Sinai (Exodus 32), Moabite Baal-Peor (Numbers 25), and pervasive Canaanite Baal/Asherah worship after settlement (Judges-Kings period). The phrase 'gods whom they knew not' emphasizes these deities' foreignness—not ancestral gods but imported cults. Solomon's foreign wives introduced their gods (1 Kings 11:1-8); Ahab institutionalized Baal worship (1 Kings 16:31-33). By Jeremiah's time, Jerusalem had altars to foreign gods on every street corner (Jeremiah 11:13). This systematic idolatry triggered the exile covenant curse.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'other gods' (wealth, success, relationships) might we be serving alongside or instead of Christ?
- How does covenant relationship with God through Christ exclude syncretistic worship of other 'lords'?
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Analysis & Commentary
For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them (וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים)—The sequence va-yelkhu va-ya'avdu ("they went and served") indicates deliberate pursuit. Avad ("serve") denotes cultic worship and practical devotion—the verb Israel should reserve for Yahweh alone (Deuteronomy 6:13).
And worshipped them (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ לָהֶם)—Yishtachavu means prostrate oneself, bow down in homage. This compounds the offense: not merely acknowledging foreign gods' existence but rendering them covenant service and worship homage belonging exclusively to Yahweh. These are elohim acherim ("other gods"), violating the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).
Gods whom they knew not (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יְדָעוּם)—Lo yeda'um ("did not know them") contrasts with knowing Yahweh through covenant relationship. These foreign deities had no history with Israel, performed no mighty acts, made no promises. The phrase whom he had not given unto them (וְלֹא חָלַק לָהֶם) uses chalaq ("allot, assign"), suggesting Yahweh sovereignly assigns nations their deities (Deuteronomy 4:19, 32:8-9), but assigned Israel to himself. Worshiping unassigned gods violates cosmic order.