The word “apostasy” comes from a Greek term that means “a standing away
from,” “a falling away, defection,” “rebellion, abandonment.” The first
one to fall away from the true worship of Jehovah was Satan the Devil.
He was therefore the first apostate. (John 8:44) He caused the first
human couple to become apostates. (Genesis, chapter 3) Very early in the
history of Israel there was a “falling away” or ‘turning aside’ from
true worship. We read:

“Even to their judges they did not listen, but they had immoral
intercourse with other gods and went bowing down to them. They quickly
turned aside from the way in which their forefathers had walked by
obeying the commandments of Jehovah.”—Judg. 2:17.