GROVES

- Antiquity of Ge 21:33 - Often on tops of hills 1Ki 14:23; Ho 4:13 - Often used as resting places 1Sa 22:6 - Idols were worshipped in De 12:2 - Not to be planted near God's altar De 16:21 - Of Canaanites, to be destroyed Ex 34:13; De 7:5; 12:3 - FOR IDOL WORSHIP PLANTED . By Ahab 1Ki 16:33 . By Manasseh 2Ki 21:3 . By Israelites 2Ki 17:16 - Fondness of Israel for Jer 17:2 - Punishment for making and serving 1Ki 14:15; Isa 1:28,29; Mic 5:14 - DESTROYED BY . Gideon Jud 6:25-28 . Hezekiah 2Ki 18:4 . Asa 2Ch 14:3 . Jehoshaphat 2Ch 17:6 . Josiah 2Ki 23:14; 2Ch 34:3,7 - God promised to wean Israel from Isa 17:7,8

---

Were very early used for religious worship, Ge 21:33. "The groves were God’s first temples," and seem naturally fitted for such purposes. Groves were also resorted to by heathen idolaters. Some elevated spot was generally chosen for this purpose. "They sacrifice upon the tops of mountains, and burn incense upon the hills; under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow hereof is good," Ho 4:13. It should be noticed, however, that the Hebrew word Asherah, which occurs in many passages, and is rendered grove in the English version, rather signifies an image of Astarte, 1Ki 18:19 2Ki 13:6; etc. See ASHTORETH, plural ASH’TAROTH. The "high places" spoken of in Scripture were used first, for the worship of Jehovah, 1Ki 3:3,4; etc. This was, strictly speaking, and irregularity, since, according to the Law of Moses, every sacrifice was required to be brought to the altar of the sanctuary, Le 17:8,9 De 11:13,16. The "high places" were also used, secondly, for the worship of idols, 2Ki 23:15, etc.

---

GROVES. → Translated in R. V. as Asherod, Ashera, and Asherim. → They were symbols of the Phoenician goddess, Asherah) → See ASHTORETH → Forbidden to be established De 16:21; Isa 1:29; 17:8; 27:9; Mic 5:14 → Worshiped by Israelites Jud 3:7; 1Ki 14:15,23; 15:13; 18:19; 2Ki 13:6; 17:10,16; 21:3-7; 2Ch 24:18; Jer 17:2 → Destroyed by
* Gideon Jud 6:28
* Hezekiah 2Ki 18:4
* Josiah 2Ki 23:14; 2Ch 34:3,4
* Asa 2Ch 14:3
* Jehoshaphat 2Ch 17:6; 19:3

→ See IDOLATRY