Topical Bible: High Places: Adorned With Tapestry

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Topical Encyclopedia

High places, known in Hebrew as "bamot," were elevated sites often used for worship and religious rituals in ancient Israel and surrounding regions. These locations were typically situated on hills or raised platforms and were frequently associated with both legitimate and illegitimate worship practices. The adornment of high places with tapestry and other decorative elements is a reflection of the cultural and religious significance attributed to these sites.

Biblical Context and Usage

High places are mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of idolatrous worship. Despite God's clear instructions to the Israelites to worship Him in the designated place He would choose (Deuteronomy 12:5-14), high places became centers for unauthorized worship, including the veneration of foreign gods. The adornment of these sites with tapestry and other luxurious decorations was a common practice, intended to honor the deities worshiped there and to create an atmosphere of reverence and awe.

In 2 Kings 23:7, we find a reference to the removal of idolatrous practices associated with high places: "He also tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women had woven tapestries for Asherah." This passage highlights the use of woven tapestries in the worship of Asherah, a Canaanite goddess, indicating that such adornments were integral to the rituals conducted at these sites.

Religious and Cultural Significance

The use of tapestry and other decorative elements in high places served multiple purposes. Firstly, it was a means of beautifying the site, making it a more fitting location for worship. Secondly, the adornments often held symbolic meanings, representing the attributes or accounts of the deities being worshiped. In the case of Asherah, the tapestries may have depicted motifs associated with fertility and nature, reflecting the goddess's domain.

The presence of tapestries and other decorations also underscores the syncretistic tendencies of the Israelites, who frequently adopted the religious practices of their neighbors. This blending of worship styles was a continual source of tension between the Israelites and their covenantal obligations to Yahweh. The prophets repeatedly condemned the use of high places and their associated practices, calling the people back to exclusive worship of the one true God.

Reform and Removal

Throughout the history of Israel and Judah, various kings undertook reforms to eliminate the high places and restore proper worship. King Hezekiah and King Josiah are notable for their efforts in this regard. 2 Kings 18:4 records Hezekiah's actions: "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles." Josiah's reforms went even further, as described in 2 Kings 23: "The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem... He smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones" (2 Kings 23:13-14).

These reforms were aimed at purifying the worship of Yahweh and eliminating the syncretistic practices that had infiltrated Israelite religion. The removal of tapestries and other adornments from high places was part of a broader effort to eradicate idolatry and restore the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.

Conclusion

The adornment of high places with tapestry reflects the complex interplay between cultural practices and religious devotion in ancient Israel. While these sites were often associated with idolatry, they also serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle to maintain faithfulness to God's commandments amidst external influences. The biblical narrative consistently calls for the rejection of high places and a return to the pure worship of Yahweh, emphasizing the importance of obedience and covenant fidelity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 16:16
And of your garments you did take, and decked your high places with divers colors, and played the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... The doorways are high and narrow; the moulding which ... of which rose the pavilions
that served as dwelling-places. ... embroideries with which it was adorned, but he ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

Acts xv. 35
... 10.) Then the writer mentions also the places, as relating ... colony." (v.11, 12.) It
is a high distinction for ... with his choral [817] train and adorned with more ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxiv acts xv 35.htm

The Memphite Empire
... brought back the stone constituted a high claim on ... Beautiful," "the Divine in its
places," which conferred ... jewels and precious stones, which adorned the royal ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... say, they in that day, instead of finding mercy, find for their high, daring, and ...
a millstone was hanged about thy neck, and that thou, as so adorned, was cast ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm