Topical Bible: High Places: Built By Solomon

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Topical Encyclopedia

High places, or "bamot" in Hebrew, were elevated sites often used for worship and religious rituals in ancient Israel and surrounding cultures. These sites typically included altars, sacred stones, and sometimes shrines or temples. While high places were initially associated with the worship of Yahweh, they became controversial due to their association with idolatry and the worship of foreign gods.

Solomon's Construction of High Places

King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom and the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, also built high places that later became a point of contention in the biblical narrative. Despite his early devotion to Yahweh, Solomon's later years were marked by religious compromise, influenced by his many foreign wives. These marriages led him to accommodate the worship of their gods, which included the construction of high places.

1 Kings 11:7-8 states: "At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods."

Religious and Cultural Context

The high places built by Solomon were significant because they represented a departure from exclusive worship of Yahweh, which was central to the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The Law of Moses explicitly warned against idolatry and the worship of other gods (Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 12:2-4). Solomon's actions, therefore, were seen as a violation of these commandments, leading to spiritual and political consequences for Israel.

Consequences and Legacy

Solomon's establishment of high places had lasting repercussions for the kingdom of Israel. His actions contributed to the spiritual decline that eventually led to the division of the kingdom after his death. The northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah both struggled with idolatry, often centered around these high places.

The biblical narrative frequently criticizes the high places, and many of the kings of Israel and Judah are evaluated based on their actions regarding these sites. For instance, some kings, like Hezekiah and Josiah, are commended for their efforts to destroy the high places and restore proper worship (2 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 23:13-15).

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, Solomon's construction of high places serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of syncretism and the importance of faithfulness to God's commandments. It underscores the biblical theme of the need for exclusive devotion to Yahweh and the rejection of idolatry. Solomon's failure in this regard is a reminder of the potential for even the wisest and most blessed individuals to fall into spiritual compromise when they turn away from God's instructions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 11:7
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... Law; while the temple built by Solomon betokens the ... of the tabernacle; whereas the
temple was built with the ... high places." For this reason, too, there was more ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory
... So they built and prospered.8. And Asa had an ... our narrative in stating that the
'high places' were not ... fortresses, but temples, as was the case with Solomon. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture g/asas reformation and consequent peace.htm

Jeremiah
... of the beautiful temple built by Solomon. And when imprisoned because of his fearless
utterances, he was still to speak plainly against sin in high places. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 34 jeremiah.htm

How, Upon the Death of Solomon the People Forsook his Son Rehoboam ...
... But we shall relate those things in their proper places hereafter ... Accordingly he
built an altar before the heifer, and undertook to be high priest himself ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how upon the.htm

Some Other Memorable Places of the City.
... 31-40 Chapter 35 Some other memorable Places of the ... the story of Ismael Ben Camithi,
the high priest; who ... Some courts also were built upon a rock, under which ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 35 some other memorable.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... encompassed with unpassable valleys; for in such places it had ... suspect that so strong
a wall was built in order ... great diligence by the Jews, as high as twenty ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

Nineveh.
... Within were huge palaces, built of the same bricks ... in the Temple, which Moses and
Solomon had ordained by ... down idols, and destroying the high places and groves ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

First Commandment
... the case of Solomon as an example of the whole nation. He married heathen wives
who turned away his heart after other gods, and built high places for their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/first commandment.htm

"This Thing is from Me"
... loyalty to himself on the part of his servant Solomon. ... dark and complicated; they
seem to be built on a ... in the desert, and waters in high places, where waters ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/this thing is from me.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... the King." It was to Milcom that Solomon erected an ... it said; "let the city of Sihon
be built and fortified ... Ar of Moab, and the Baalim of the high-places of Arnon ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm