תהלים, פרק ע״ח, פסוק נ״ח

The spiritual decline of the nation reached a severe low point of active provocation against God. During the days of Eli and Samuel, idol worship spread widely across the land. This dark era only came to an end when Samuel the prophet guided the people back to the right path following the return of the Ark of the Covenant from Philistine captivity [רד״ק]. Throughout this period, the people built forbidden high places and altars, engaging in practices that directly aroused His jealousy and wrath [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

There are different perspectives on how this rebellion unfolded at the altars. One approach explains that the anger stemmed from the people using these altars to offer sacrifices directly to false idols instead of God [אבן עזרא]. Another perspective points to a gradual, tragic descent into idolatry. In this view, the people initially built private altars to offer sacrifices to God. This practice was strictly forbidden as long as the Tabernacle stood in Shiloh. What began as an unlawful way to worship God soon deteriorated into a much more severe sin. The people eventually transitioned to worshiping actual carved images, provoking God's deep jealousy over these empty deities [אלשיך].