The hill country of Ephraim has appeared a number of times before in Judges. Joshua was buried there (Judges 2:9). Ehud sounded his trumpet there (Judges 3:27). Deborah held court there (Judges 4:5). Gideon sent messengers there to call the men of Ephraim to arms against the Midianites (Judges 7:24). This region has played an important role in some of God’s most significant saving acts in Judges. And it is the location of the house of Shiloh (Judges 18:31). But now it becomes the place of impure worship, deep idolatry.