Newsweek noted that the Bible passage was a condemnation of Philistines and the Cherethites, historic enemies of the Israelites, dating to the fifth century BC. Ezekiel, the Old Testament book in which it appears, focuses on a demonstrative prophet of the same name who engages in street theater to attract the attention of crowds to deliver his message.

Er, it wasn’t a condemnation of the people groups; it was a condemnation of those who practiced child sacrifice, took bribes, and exploited orphans and widows. It just happened to tie this to the governments of the Philistines and Cherethites, who were known for doing these things.