They might not profess idolatry; but they offered help and guidance from sources which Jehovah frowned upon, rival sources of defence or knowledge.
"The Expositor's Bible: The Book of Exodus"
G. A. Chadwick
They profess to go away because they cannot understand Him; but they understand Him well enough to see He is not the person for their purposes.
"The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I"
Marcus Dods
Thee we worship and profess.
"In Desert and Wilderness"
Henryk Sienkiewicz