20:18 “‘But I said to their children 5 in the wilderness, “Do not follow the practices of your fathers; do not observe their regulations, 6 nor defile yourselves with their idols.
20:30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers 9 and engage in prostitution with detestable idols?
1 tn Heb “and I said/thought to pour out.”
2 tn Heb “to bring them to an end.”
3 tn The words “I did this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for stylistic reasons. Verses 15-16 are one long sentence in the Hebrew text. The translation divides this sentence into two for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Heb “for after their idols their heart was going.” The use of the active participle (“was going”) in the Hebrew text draws attention to the ongoing nature of their idolatrous behavior.
5 tn Heb “sons,” reflecting the patriarchal idiom of the culture.
6 tn Or “standard of justice.” See Ezek 7:27.
7 tn The words “I did this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for stylistic reasons. Verses 23-24 are one long sentence in the Hebrew text. The translation divides this sentence into two for stylistic reasons.
8 tn Or “they worshiped” (NCV, TEV, CEV); Heb “their eyes were on” or “were after” (cf. v. 16).
9 tn Heb “in the way of your fathers.”