23 And he began to sacrifice to the gods+ of Damascus+ that were striking him, and he went on to say: “Because the gods of the kings of Syria are helping them,+ to them I shall sacrifice, that they may help+ me.” And they themselves became to him a cause for making him and all Israel stumble.+

21 “Go, inquire+ of Jehovah in my own behalf+ and in behalf of what is left in Israel and in Judah concerning the words of the book+ that has been found, for great is Jehovah’s rage+ that must be poured out against us because of the fact that our forefathers did not keep the word of Jehovah by doing according to all that is written in this book.”+

12 However, because our fathers irritated+ the God of the heavens, he gave+ them into the hand of Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar+ the king of Babylon, the Chal·deʹan,+ and he demolished this house+ and took the people into exile at Babylon.+

16 “And they themselves, even our forefathers, acted presumptuously+ and proceeded to harden their neck,+ and they did not listen to your commandments.