And the groves - literally, Asheroth, images of Asherah (the goddess companion of Baal): see Deuteronomy 16:21 note.

Did evil in the sight of the Lord. —Rather, did the evil, as in Judges 2:11.

And the groves. —Rat…

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord , &c.] Both by marrying with Heathens, and worshipping their…

As the Israelites were a type of the church on earth, they were not to be idle and slothful. The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the…