Topical Encyclopedia High places, known in Hebrew as "bamot," were elevated sites often used for worship and religious rituals. In the context of ancient Israel, these sites became significant due to their association with both legitimate and illegitimate worship practices. The construction and use of high places by the Israelites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, reflecting a complex history of religious devotion and apostasy.Biblical Background High places were initially used by the Canaanites for the worship of their deities. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were commanded to destroy these sites to prevent idolatry. Deuteronomy 12:2-3 states, "Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places." Despite these clear instructions, the Israelites often failed to fully eradicate these high places, and over time, they began to use them for their own worship practices. This was particularly evident during periods of spiritual decline when the people of Israel turned to syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan practices. Notable High Places in Israel 1. Gibeon: Before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the high place at Gibeon was a significant site for worship. Solomon offered sacrifices there, as recorded in 1 Kings 3:4 : "The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar." 2. Bethel and Dan: Under King Jeroboam I, the northern kingdom of Israel established high places at Bethel and Dan to prevent the people from going to Jerusalem to worship. 1 Kings 12:28-30 describes this: "After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, 'It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves." 3. Mount Carmel: Although not a high place in the traditional sense, Mount Carmel was the site of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, as recorded in 1 Kings 18. This event highlighted the ongoing struggle between the worship of Yahweh and the pagan practices that often took place at high places. Reforms and Destruction of High Places Throughout Israel's history, several kings attempted to reform the religious practices of the nation by destroying high places. King Hezekiah is noted for his efforts to centralize worship in Jerusalem and eliminate high places. 2 Kings 18:4 states, "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles." Similarly, King Josiah undertook significant religious reforms, as described in 2 Kings 23:13-14 : "The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones." Theological Implications The persistence of high places in Israel's history serves as a reminder of the constant temptation to deviate from pure worship of Yahweh. The high places symbolize the struggle between faithfulness to God's commands and the allure of surrounding cultural practices. The biblical narrative consistently portrays the use of high places for unauthorized worship as a departure from the covenant relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of worshiping Him in the manner He prescribed. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 17:9And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library National Apostasy The Witness of Balaam to Israel Concerning Jeroboam King of Israel and Jonah the Prophet; and How ... Jehoshaphat Political Religion Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory The Earlier Hebrew Histories. A Kingdom's Epitaph The Millennium in Relation to Israel. Jeremiah Resources Why is God described as God Most High? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of high places in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What was the biblical role of the high priest? | GotQuestions.org High: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics High Places of the Canaanites to be Destroyed High Places used for Idolatrous Worship High Places: A Term Used to Describe Places of Worship High Places: Adorned With Tapestry High Places: Built By Jeroboam High Places: Built By Manasseh High Places: Built By People of Israel High Places: Built By People of Judah High Places: Destroyed: Asa, Partially High Places: Destroyed: Hezekiah High Places: Destroyed: Jehoshaphat High Places: Destroyed: Josiah High Places: Enchantments Used Upon High Places: God Sometimes Worshipped On High Places: Hezekiah Destroys High Places: Jehoshaphat Destroys High Places: Licentious Practices At High Places: Not Removed: Amaziah High Places: Not Removed: Azariah High Places: Not Removed: Jehoash High Places: Not Removed: Jotham High Places: Priests Ordained For High Places: Sacrifices and Incense offered to Idols Upon High Places: Signify a Place of Idolatrous Worship High Places: Surrounded With Groves High Places: The Idolatrous, to be Destroyed High Places: The Jews: Built, in all Their Streets High Places: The Jews: Built, in Their Cities High Places: The Jews: Condemned for Building High Places: The Jews: Provoked God With High Places: The Jews: Punished For High Places: The Jews: Threatened With Destruction of The High Priest was Called: God's High Priest The High Priest was Called: Ruler of the People The High Priest was Called: The Priest The High Priest were for Beauty and Ornament The High Priest: Assisted by a Deputy The High Priest: Consecrated to his office The High Priest: Duties of Appointing Priests to offices The High Priest: Duties of Bearing Before the Lord the Names of Israel for a Memorial The High Priest: Duties of Blessing the People The High Priest: Duties of Consecrating the Levites The High Priest: Duties of Enquiring of God by Urim and Thummim The High Priest: Duties of Lighting the Sacred Lamps The High Priest: Duties of Making Atonement in the Most Holy Place Once a Year The High Priest: Duties of Offering Gifts and Sacrifices The High Priest: Duties of Presiding in the Superior Court The High Priest: Duties of Taking Charge of Money Collected in the Sacred Treasury The High Priest: Duties of Taking the Census of the People The High Priest: Family of Eli Degraded from office of, for Bad Conduct The High Priest: Forbidden to Mourn for Any The High Priest: Inferior to Christ in Being Made Without an Oath The High Priest: Inferior to Christ in Being of the Order of Aaron The High Priest: Inferior to Christ in Entering Into Holiest Every Year The High Priest: Inferior to Christ in Needing to Make Atonement for his own Sins The High Priest: Inferior to Christ in not Being Able to Continue The High Priest: Inferior to Christ in Offering oftentimes the Same Sacrifices The High Priest: Made by Divine Wisdom Given to Bezaleel The High Priest: Needed to Sacrifice for Himself The High Priest: Next in Rank to the King The High Priest: Office of, Made Annual by the Romans The High Priest: Office of, Promised to the Posterity of Phinehas for his Zeal The High Priest: Often Exercised Chief Civil Power The High Priest: Sometimes Deposed by the Kings The High Priest: Sometimes Enabled to Prophesy The High Priest: Special Garments of Breastplate The High Priest: Special Garments of Broidered Coat The High Priest: Special Garments of Ephod With Its Curious Girdle The High Priest: Special Garments of Girdle The High Priest: Special Garments of Linen Mitre The High Priest: Special Garments of Plate or Crown of Gold The High Priest: Special Garments of Robe of the Ephod The High Priest: Specially Called of God The High Priest: The Deputy of Called the Second Priest The High Priest: The Deputy of had Oversight of the Levites The High Priest: The Deputy of had Oversight of the Tabernacle The High Priest: The office of, Hereditary The High Priest: To be Tender and Compassionate The High Priest: To Marry a Virgin of Aaron's Family The High Priest: Typified Christ in Alone Entering Into Most Holy Place The High Priest: Typified Christ in Bearing the Names of Israel Upon his Heart The High Priest: Typified Christ in Being Called of God The High Priest: Typified Christ in Being Liable to Temptation The High Priest: Typified Christ in Blessing The High Priest: Typified Christ in Compassion and Sympathy for the Weak and Ignorant The High Priest: Typified Christ in His Appointment The High Priest: Typified Christ in His Title The High Priest: Typified Christ in Holiness of office The High Priest: Typified Christ in Interceding The High Priest: Typified Christ in Making Atonement The High Priest: Typified Christ in Marrying a Virgin The High Priest: Typified Christ in Performing by Himself all the Services on Day of Atonement The High Priest: Typified Christ in Splendid Dress The High Priest: Wore the Ordinary Priest's Garments when Making Atonement In The High Priest: Worn at his Consecration The High Priest: Worn at his Consecration: Descended to his Successors The High Priest: Worn at his Consecration: Worn Seven Days After Consecration Related Terms |
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