Definition: Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This [is] thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Nehemiah 9:18. It’s a really important part of understanding how the Israelites were treated and what happened to them. Here's a simple explanation: The Basic Story: The verse describes a situation where the Israelites (specifically, the priests) made a calf – a sacred object – and then began to worship it as God. They were essentially worshipping an idol instead of focusing on God. What happened next? They started to provoke God with their actions. They were demanding things from the calf that weren’t allowed, arguing with God, and generally acting in a way that upset the divine relationship. So, what does this verse mean? It's essentially saying they were disrespecting God . They were prioritizing their own desires and demands over the true worship of God. It was a serious transgression. Let’s unpack it further: “They had made them a molten calf” : This refers to the act of building a temple – a place for worship – using molten clay. “and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations” : This is the core of the problem. They were claiming this calf was God’s creation, implying it was special or divine. But they were actually provoking God with their actions – demanding things, arguing, and generally acting like they were in control of something sacred. The Significance: This verse highlights a crucial point: true worship is about recognizing and obeying God's will, not creating idols. It’s about humbling yourself before Him and aligning your desires with His purpose. In short: The Israelites messed up by making a calf and then acting like it was the only thing that mattered. It was a serious mistake that angered God and led to their downfall. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this story in more detail? Connect this verse to a larger theme in the Bible (like obedience or idolatry)?