# they forsook Yahweh

"they were unfaithful to Yahweh" or "they did not obey Yahweh"

# who had brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt

This phrase tells why they should have worshiped God. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-distinguish]])

# they laid hold of other gods

Here "laid hold of" represents choosing to be loyal to them. Alternate translation: "they chose to be loyal to other gods" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# bowed down to them and worshiped them

These two phrases mean the same thing. The phrase "bowed down to them" describes the posture that people used in worship. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism]])