They followed vanity Idols; so called, because of their unprofitableness, impotency, and nothingness, and to show the folly and madness of idolaters. And became vain By the long worship of idols they were made like them, vain, sottish, and senseless creatures. And they left all the commandments of the Lord They grew worse and worse; from a partial disobedience to some of God's laws, they fell by degrees to a total apostacy from all of them. And worshipped all the host of heaven The sun, moon, and stars, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, &c.; against which Moses had particularly cautioned them, Deuteronomy 14:19. They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire Thus offering or consecrating them to their idols: see on 2 Kings 16:3. And used divination and enchantments Which were the abominable sins of the heathen. And sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord Wholly addicted themselves to sin, as slaves are addicted to the service of those to whom they are sold; and, by their obstinately persisting in sin, so hardened their own hearts, that at length it was become morally impossible for them to recover themselves, as one that has sold himself has put his liberty beyond recall.
Related Commentaries of 2 Kings 17:15
2 Kings 17:15-17
15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.