In the context of ancient Israel, "high places" were sites often located on elevated ground where worship and religious rituals were conducted. These sites were frequently associated with the worship of foreign deities, but they were also used for the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel, albeit in a manner not prescribed by the Mosaic Law. The existence and persistence of these high places were a recurring issue throughout the history of the Israelite monarchy, as they often led the people away from centralized worship in Jerusalem and the temple.

Amaziah, the son of Joash, was the king of Judah who reigned in the 9th century BC. His reign is documented in the biblical books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Amaziah is noted for his initial adherence to the ways of the Lord, yet his reign is marked by a significant failure to remove the high places, which remained a spiritual stumbling block for the people of Judah.

The account of Amaziah's reign in 2 Kings 14:3-4 states: "He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like his father David. He did everything as his father Joash had done. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places." This passage highlights the partial obedience of Amaziah. While he followed the Lord to some extent, his failure to remove the high places indicates a lack of full commitment to the covenantal requirements given to Israel.

The persistence of high places during Amaziah's reign reflects a broader pattern seen in the history of Judah's kings. Despite efforts by some kings to centralize worship in Jerusalem, the high places often remained due to political, cultural, and religious pressures. These sites were deeply ingrained in the local traditions and practices of the people, making their removal a challenging task.

Amaziah's failure to remove the high places had significant implications for the spiritual life of Judah. The continued existence of these sites allowed for syncretism and the blending of Yahwistic worship with pagan practices, which was contrary to the exclusive worship of Yahweh as commanded in the Law of Moses. This syncretism often led the people away from true worship and contributed to the spiritual decline of the nation.

In summary, the reign of Amaziah serves as a reminder of the importance of complete obedience to God's commands. While Amaziah did what was right in many respects, his failure to address the issue of the high places left a legacy of incomplete reform and spiritual compromise in Judah.2 Kings 14:4
However, the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On Idolatry
... and mention of a Deity being removed, pure atheism ... of the true God,) which is not
expressly said ... performed, whether by building temples, high places or groves ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... God is, according to him, widely removed from ordinary humanity. ... Nevertheless this
multiplicity of high places was not without its dangers; it led the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Much Money; On Which Account He Would Not Admit Of ... 3. How Herod Upon His Making
Aristobulus High Priest Took ... How He Built And Adorned Many Other Places After A ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Footnotes
... arms till they were put into some places of trust ... of these representations, "Their
Majesties High commissioner and ... from his place if he had not demitted." (Life ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

The Book of Enoch
... the joy of the righteous; it will be their high privilege to ... with war and calamity
and desolation, and rest is not won till ... 89] But from other places we gather ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

Questions.
... 36. How were the High Priests appointed after the murder of Aristobulus? ... 26. Why
could not the Temple be saved? ... 6. How did she do honour to the holy places? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... son (2 Samuel 18:5). But that God, the high God, the ... so it is to be taken in all
those places where a ... thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

The Historical Books. 1 the New Testament...
... The manuscript to which this high honor was assigned is ... and like a spring of water,
whose waters fail not. ... be of thee shall build the old waste places." Isa.58 ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxix the historical books.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... melh] occurs with the signification "high place"), is ... Philistines from their former
dwelling-places in Caphtor to ... earth, saving that I will not utterly destroy ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... Because Christ would not have them look too high, as I ... would have them, the saints
of God should not walk so ... up and down the streets and other places as they do ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

Why did Solomon worship at a high place? | GotQuestions.org

What is a high Sabbath? | GotQuestions.org

Did the high priest have a rope tied to him when he entered the Holy of Holies? | GotQuestions.org

High: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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