Obedience Is More than Sacrifice

²¹ “‘This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts], the God of Israel, says: ·Offer [^LAdd your] burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] along with your other sacrifices, and eat the ·meat [^Lflesh] yourselves [^Cit was forbidden to eat the meat of the burnt offering]! ²² When I brought your ·ancestors [fathers] out of Egypt, I did not speak to them and give them commands only about burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and sacrifices. ²³ I also ·gave them this command [^Lcommanded this word]: ·Obey me [^LListen to my voice], and I will be your God and you will be my people. ·Do all that I command [^LWalk in my way/path] so that ·good things will happen to you [things might be well with you]. ²⁴ But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not listen or ·pay attention [^Lbend their ear] to me. They were stubborn in their evil hearts and ·did whatever they wanted [^Lwalked in their own counsels]. They went backward, not forward. ²⁵ Since the day your ·ancestors [fathers] left Egypt until today, I have sent my servants, the prophets, again and again to you. ²⁶ But your ·ancestors [fathers] did not listen or ·pay attention [^Lbend the ear] to me. ·They were very stubborn [^LTheir necks were stiff] and they did more evil than their ·ancestors [fathers].’