As then so now. Self deceived and self righteous with a veneer of religion. They thought they were doing good in God's sight. After Malachi there was 400 years of silence from the prophets.
Malachi 2:17 π
All of you have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet all of you say,
> Wherein have we wearied him?
When all of you say,
> Every one that does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them;
or,
> Where is the God of judgment?