The wrong god?
Is making a graven image a sin?
The wrong temple?
The wrong priests?
Like a nuclear power plant
Leviticus 10:1-2, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers and, putting incense on the fire they had set in them, they offered before the Lord unauthorized fire, such as he had not commanded. Fire therefore came forth from the Lord’s presence and consumed them, so that they died in the Lord’s presence.
Numbers 16:3, 31-35, Holding an assembly against Moses and Aaron, they said, “You go too far! The whole community, all of them, are holy; the Lord is in their midst. Why then should you set yourselves over the Lord’s assembly?” … The ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their families and all of Korah’s people with all their possessions. They went down alive to Sheol with all belonging to them; the earth closed over them, and they disappeared from the assembly. … And fire from the Lord came forth which consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.
Images (PPTX)
Response to Babylonian Exile (597/587 - 539)
An ideal plan for an orderly society, to keep exile from happening again
After exile, priests became major leaders (no king, decline of prophets)