Final answer:
One way in which the priesthood became corrupt and caused the Jewish nation to go into captivity was by putting no difference between the worship of Yahweh and the worship of other gods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The corruption of the priesthood was one factor that led to the Jewish nation going into captivity. One way in which the priesthood became corrupt was by putting no difference between the worship of Yahweh and the worship of other gods. They began to incorporate elements of pagan worship into their practices, which went against the teachings and laws of Judaism. This corruption caused a decline in moral and religious standards, leading to the downfall of the Jewish nation.
For example, in the first century CE, some powerful priests known as the Sadducees only followed the 10 Commandments and believed that only the Temple priests needed to follow the many laws and injunctions laid down by Moses. They did not distinguish between the worship of Yahweh and the worship of other gods, which led to the erosion of the distinctiveness of Jewish religious practices.
Overall, the corruption of the priesthood in not maintaining the exclusive worship of Yahweh and incorporating pagan practices contributed to the decline and captivity of the Jewish nation.