HIGH PLACES

- Used for idolatrous worship 1Ki 11:7,8 - God sometimes worshipped on 1Sa 9:12; 1Ki 3:2,4; 2Ch 33:17 - MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE . Gibeon 1Ki 3:4 . Arnon Nu 21:28 . Baal Nu 22:41 . Tophet Jer 7:31 . Bamah Eze 20:29 . Aven Ho 10:8 - Adorned with tapestry Eze 16:16 - Surrounded with groves 1Ki 14:23 - BUILT BY . Solomon 1Ki 11:7 . Jeroboam 1Ki 12:31 . Jehoram 2Ch 21:11 . Ahaz 2Ch 28:25 . Manasseh 2Ki 21:3; 2Ch 33:3 . People of Judah 1Ki 14:23 . People of Israel 2Ki 17:9 - Priests ordained for 1Ki 12:32; 13:33 - Sacrifices and incense offered to idols upon 2Ki 12:3; 16:4 - Enchantments used upon Nu 23:3; 24:1 - Of the Canaanites to be destroyed Nu 33:52 - THE JEWS . Built, in their cities 2Ki 17:9 . Built, in all their streets Eze 16:24,31 . Condemned for building Eze 16:23-35 . Provoked God with 1Ki 14:22,23; Ps 78:58 . Threatened with destruction of Le 26:30 . Punished for 2Ki 17:11,18 - DESTROYED . Asa, partially 2Ch 14:3,5; 15:17 . Jehoshaphat 2Ch 17:6 . Hezekiah 2Ki 18:4; 2Ch 31:1 . Josiah 2Ki 23:8; 2Ch 34:3 - NOT REMOVED . Jehoash 2Ki 12:3 . Amaziah 2Ki 14:4 . Azariah 2Ki 15:4 . Jotham 2Ki 15:35

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The ancient Canaanites, and other nations, worshipped the heavenly bodies and their idols upon hills, mountains, and artificial elevations. The Israelites were commanded to destroy these places of idol worship, De 12:2, but instead of this, they imitated the heathen, and at first worshipped Jehovah in high places, 1Sa 9:12 1Ki 3:4, and afterwards idols, 1Ki 11:7 2Ki 17:10,11. Here also they built chapels or temples, "houses of the high places," 1Ki 13:32 2Ki 17:29, and had regular priests, 1Ki 12:32 2Ki 17:32. Different groves were sacred to different gods; and the high places were inseparably linked to idolatry. Hence one reason why Jehovah required the festivals and sacrifices of the Jews to be centered at his temple in Jerusalem; that the people of the living and only true God might be delivered from the temptations of the groves, and witness as one man against idolatry. The prophets reproach the Israelites for worshipping on the high places; the destroying of which was a duty, but the honor of performing it is given to few princes in Scripture, though several of them were zealous for the law. Before the temple was built, the high places were not absolutely contrary to the law, provided God only was adored there. Under the judges, they seem to have been tolerated in some exceptional cases; and Samuel offered sacrifice in several places where the ark was not present. Even in David’s time, the people sacrificed to the Lord at Shiloh, Jerusalem, and Gibeon. The high places were much frequented in the kingdom of Israel; and on these hills they often adored idols, and committed a thousand abominations. See BAMOTH and GROVES.

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HIGH PLACES. → A term used to describe places of worship Ge 12:8; 22:2,14; 31:54; 1Sa 9:12; 2Sa 24:25; 1Ki 3:2,4; 18:30,38; 1Ch 16:39; 2Ch 1:3; 33:17 → Signify a place of idolatrous worship Nu 22:41; 1Ki 11:7; 12:31; 14:23; 15:14; 22:43; 2Ki 17:9,29; Jer 7:31 → Licentious practices at Eze 16:24-43 → The idolatrous, to be destroyed Le 26:30; Nu 33:52 → Asa destroys 2Ch 14:3 → Jehoshaphat destroys 2Ch 17:6 → Hezekiah destroys 2Ki 18:4 → Josiah destroys 2Ki 23:8 → See GROVES → See IDOLATRY

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(1) General References to Idolatrous. See FALSE WORSHIP (2) Condemned Le 26:30; Nu 33:52; 1Ki 13:32; 2Ch 14:3; Jer 7:31 (3) Sometimes used for True Worship Ge 22:2; 31:54; Jud 6:26; 1Sa 9:12; 10:5; 1Ki 3:4; 18:19