The apostasy of Israel had developed gradually. From generation to generation, Satan had made repeated attempts to cause the chosen nation to forget "the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments" that they had promised to keep forever. Deuteronomy 6:1. He knew that if he could only lead Israel to forget God, and to "walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them," they would "surely perish." Deuteronomy 8:19.

Israels frafald kom gradvis. Satan gjorde adskillige forsøg fra slægt til slægt for at få det udvalgte folk til at glemme "budet, anordningerne og lovbudene", som de havde lovet at holde for evigt. (5Mos. 6,1) Han vidste, at hvis han blot kunne få Israel til at glemme Gud og holde sig til andre guder og dyrke og tilbede dem, så ville de gå til grunde. 5Mos 8,19