This refers to the time of the exodus from Egypt, when God considered Israel a young wife (Jer. 2:2). However, when this wife grew up, she left God for Baal and went to Baal-peor (a city named after the idol Baal of Peor — Num. 25:3; Psa. 106:28) and sanctified herself unto the shameful thing (idol) and became an abomination, like the thing (idol) that she loved.

The corruption of Israel was so great that it matched the corruption in the days of Gibeah as described in Judg. 19:15-30.

This may mean that the prophets had become so evil that wherever they went they were a trap to snare the people. In the temple the prophets created enmity; they did not have love or sympathy.

This indicates that in the past the northern kingdom of Israel was quite good.

Lit., man of the spirit. Israel’s considering a prophet as a fool and considering a man of the spirit, an inspired one, as mad indicates that they did not care for God’s interests. On the contrary, they thought that caring for God’s interests was foolishness.

Idols made of silver.

Probably Memphis, an Egyptian city near the Nile; elsewhere called Noph.