Topical Encyclopedia High places in the biblical context refer to elevated sites, often on hills or mountains, where altars and shrines were erected for worship. These sites were frequently associated with pagan rituals and idolatry, contrary to the worship of Yahweh as prescribed in the Mosaic Law. The destruction of high places was a significant aspect of religious reform in ancient Israel, particularly under the reign of King Josiah.Josiah's Reforms King Josiah of Judah, who reigned from approximately 640 to 609 BC, is renowned for his zealous religious reforms, which included the eradication of high places. His actions are detailed in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. Josiah ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight, following the assassination of his father, Amon. His reign marked a pivotal return to the worship of Yahweh, as he sought to purify Judah from the idolatrous practices that had proliferated under previous kings. Discovery of the Book of the Law A significant catalyst for Josiah's reforms was the discovery of the Book of the Law during temple renovations. This event is recorded in 2 Kings 22:8-11 : "Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. And Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, 'Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the house and have put it into the hands of the workers and supervisors at the house of the LORD.' Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes." The reading of the Law profoundly impacted Josiah, leading him to initiate a comprehensive campaign to eliminate idolatry and restore covenantal faithfulness. Destruction of High Places Josiah's campaign against high places is vividly described in 2 Kings 23. He systematically destroyed the sites of pagan worship throughout Judah and even extended his reforms into the former northern kingdom of Israel. 2 Kings 23:13-14 states: "The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. He smashed the sacred pillars to pieces, cut down the Asherah poles, and covered the sites with human bones." Josiah's actions were not limited to the destruction of physical structures; he also defiled these sites to prevent their reuse. This included burning the bones of priests who had served at these altars, as noted in 2 Kings 23:16 : "As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside. So he sent and had the bones removed from the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things." Significance of Josiah's Actions Josiah's destruction of the high places was a decisive move to centralize worship in Jerusalem and eliminate syncretistic practices that had led the people away from exclusive devotion to Yahweh. His reforms were a fulfillment of the Deuteronomic command to worship at the place the LORD would choose (Deuteronomy 12:5-14). Josiah's actions were seen as a return to the covenantal ideals and a rejection of the idolatry that had plagued Israel and Judah for generations. Josiah's reforms, though ultimately unable to prevent the eventual downfall of Judah, were a significant attempt to restore the nation to its covenantal roots and serve as a model of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. His efforts underscore the importance of pure worship and the rejection of idolatry in the life of God's people. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 23:8And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and broke down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Chronicles 34:3 Library Josiah The Book of the Law Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed. The Earlier Hebrew Histories. Oracles on the Edge of Doom. (vii. 16-xviii Passim, xxii, Xlv. ) The Story of the Fiery Furnace Jeremiah The Wall Rebuilt. Deuteronomy The Unclean Spirits. 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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