“‘Of what use to me
Is frankincense
That comes from Sheba?
Of what use to me
Is sweet cane
From a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable.
Your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.’
Therefore thus says Yahweh.
‘See!
I am laying before this people
Stumbling blocks
Against which they shall stumble.
Parents shall perish.
Children with them shall perish.
Neighbors shall perish.
Friends shall perish.’”
Yahweh, via Jeremiah, rejects their sacrificial offerings. What good is that precious frankincense from Sheba or the sweet cane from other far away countries? These rich burnt offerings are still unacceptable and not pleasing to Yahweh since they were no substitute for faithfulness. Yahweh was going to be a stumbling block for all of them. Parents, children, neighbors, and friends will all perish, nice and simple, no questions asked.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 