For sons of Judah had done evil in my sight, declares the Lord.
Yet more evidence of Judah’s distorted worship follows. They have set detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it.
The Hebrew word for detestable thing
is siqqus and it occurs some twenty-eight times in the Old Testament where it refers mostly to some kind of object or image that is used in the worship of other gods. Sometimes it may also refer to the whole practice of worshipping false gods.1 Despite the temple reforms enforced by Josiah, the religious corruption under the previous rule of Manasseh lived on in the hearts of people, and now, under the rule of Jehoiakim, it shows itself again as the people commit perverted acts of worship in the temple.2 It is a profound act of insult towards the Lord and of deep disobedience and rebellion. It is no wonder the Lord says that the place that is called by his name is defiled.
30 “For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the LORD. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it.