In the time of the Judges, the Israelites repeatedly fell into cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This verse marks the beginning of one such cycle, where the Israelites turned away from their covenant with God. They began to worship the Baals and the Asherahs, which were common deities in the Canaanite religion, representing fertility and nature. This turning away from God was seen as evil because it violated the first commandment to have no other gods.
The Israelites' forgetfulness of God wasn't just a lapse in memory but a deliberate choice to ignore His commandments and guidance. This led to a loss of identity and purpose, as they were meant to be a people set apart for God. The verse serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of spiritual complacency and the allure of cultural assimilation. It encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to remember the foundational truths of their spiritual heritage, resisting the temptation to conform to surrounding influences.