The real shock here is not just that they sinned, but when and where. God had just brought them into the very land He promised them, a land of blessing, yet the first thing they saw was an opportunity to provoke Him with idolatry. It highlights how quickly the allure of familiar sinful patterns can eclipse God's incredible faithfulness.
For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God graciously brought the Israelites into the promised land, a land He swore to give them, they immediately began to engage in idolatrous practices. Instead of worshiping Him as commanded, they eagerly embraced the Canaanite custom of offering sacrifices and burning incense on every high hill and under every leafy tree, corrupting God's intended worship. This verse highlights their immediate turning away from God, even after receiving His blessings and fulfilling His oath.
Imagine God giving you the most amazing gift – a perfect home. What's your immediate reaction? For Israel, it wasn't gratitude, but a rush to set up shrines to other gods in their new backyard.
God brought Israel into the Promised Land, a land He swore to give them, a testament to His faithfulness. Yet, the very moment they settled, they turned their attention not to honoring God, but to the landscape itself for their idolatrous practices.
High Places and Leafy Trees
Instead of building altars to Yahweh as commanded, they chose these readily available, spiritually charged locations for their own rituals. This wasn't just a minor detour; it was a deliberate imitation of the Canaanite practices they were supposed to eradicate.
God gave specific instructions for worship. But Israel, it seems, decided they knew better, twisting His commands into something offensive.
The passage details the specific acts of worship Israel performed in these forbidden places: sacrifices, offerings, 'pleasing aromas' (incense), and drink offerings. These were all elements of legitimate worship prescribed in the Law.
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The 'Provocation of Their Offering'
Understand the original words
bāmāh · Hebrew Noun
A place of worship, usually situated on elevated ground, used for sacrifice. While often used for Yahweh worship, they were frequently associated with Canaanite idolatry and were condemned by the prophets as illegitimate worship.
kaʿaś · Hebrew Noun
A gesture of insult or anger towards God; in a religious context, it refers to acts of idolatry that provoke God's righteous jealousy and judgment.
rēaḥ nîḥōaḥ · Hebrew Phrase
A term used for sacrifices or incense that produce a smell acceptable to God, though in prophetic literature, it ironically highlights the hypocrisy of people offering "pleasing" things while living in active rebellion.
nesek · Hebrew Noun
A liquid sacrifice (usually wine) poured out upon an altar or at a site of worship; it was a common practice in both authorized and idolatrous cults.
This verse highlights a tragic pattern: God's faithfulness in giving the land was met with Israel's immediate turning to forbidden worship practices. Their 'high places' and 'leafy trees' became symbols of their deliberate rejection of God's covenant, occurring even as the nation faced divine judgment.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
Following Moses' death, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land of Canaan. This marks the beginning of their conquest and settlement.
c. 1400-1300 BC
Early Israelite Settlement and Worship
As Israel settles Canaan, they establish their religious practices. However, the proximity to Canaanite culture and its religious sites leads to syncretism, where Israelite worship begins to incorporate forbidden elements.
c. 10th Century BC
High Places Flourish
During the period of the United Monarchy and early Divided Monarchy, worship at local 'high places' and under trees becomes widespread, often blending Yahwistic practices with Canaanite cults.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophetic Denunciation of High Places
Prophets like Amos and Hosea vehemently condemn the worship at high places, highlighting its association with idolatry, immorality, and a corrupted understanding of God.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many, partly as judgment for persistent religious corruption and idolatry.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Southern Kingdom
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the population. This event serves as a harsh judgment for Judah's continued covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry in Exile
Ezekiel, an exile in Babylon, receives visions and prophecies from God, including this lament over Israel's persistent failure to honor God in the land He gave them.
This passage directly instructs Israel to destroy the high places and sacred pillars of the nations they are displacing, setting the stage for why Ezekiel condemns their use of these very locations for worship.
Jeremiah 2:20Jeremiah also uses the imagery of trees and high places to condemn Israel's unfaithfulness, showing that this prophetic theme of idolatry tied to natural landmarks predates Ezekiel.
Hosea 4:12-13Hosea highlights how Israel's worship practices, often conducted on high places and among trees, were deeply intertwined with idolatry and spiritual corruption, paralleling Ezekiel's indictment.
Isaiah 57:5-8This prophecy condemns similar practices, including sacrifices in valleys and under trees, revealing a long-standing pattern of syncretistic worship that God found detestable.
Leviticus 26:11-12This passage speaks of God's promise to dwell among His people and be their God, a promise starkly contrasted by Ezekiel's depiction of their turning to idolatrous practices in the very land where God intended to dwell with them.
cambridgeEzekiel 20:28: "For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings."
28 . The prophet regards the worship on the high-places and under the evergreen trees as a Canaanitish usage adopted by Israel, as Deuteronom…
calvinEzekiel 20:27-28: "Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me."
- For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made the…
The real shock here is not just that they sinned, but when and where. God had just brought them into the very land He promised them, a land of blessing, yet the first thing they saw was an opportunity to provoke Him with idolatry. It highlights how quickly the allure of familiar sinful patterns can eclipse God's incredible faithfulness.
After God graciously brought the Israelites into the promised land, a land He swore to give them, they immediately began to engage in idolatrous practices. Instead of worshiping Him as commanded, they eagerly embraced the Canaanite custom of offering sacrifices and burning incense on every high hill and under every leafy tree, corrupting God's intended worship. This verse highlights their immediate turning away from God, even after receiving His blessings and fulfilling His oath.
After God graciously brought the Israelites into the promised land, a land He swore to give them, they immediately began to engage in idolatrous practices. Instead of worshiping Him as commanded, they eagerly embraced the Canaanite custom of offering sacrifices and burning incense on every high hill and under every leafy tree, corrupting God's intended worship. This verse highlights their immediate turning away from God, even after receiving His blessings and fulfilling His oath.
"For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up…" — The real shock here is not just that they sinned, but when and where. God had just brought them into the very land He promised them, a land of blessing, yet the first thing they saw was an oppo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
