High Places: The Jews: Provoked God With
Jump to: Torrey'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
High places, known in Hebrew as "bamot," were elevated sites often used for worship and religious rituals. These locations were typically found on hills or raised platforms and were prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including among the Israelites. The use of high places by the Jews is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often associated with idolatry and syncretism, which provoked the anger of God.

Biblical Context and Usage

High places were initially used for legitimate worship. For instance, the prophet Samuel offered sacrifices at high places (1 Samuel 9:12-14). However, as the Israelites settled in Canaan, they adopted the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, using these sites for the worship of foreign gods, which was strictly forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 12:2-4).

Idolatry and Syncretism

The Israelites' use of high places often led to idolatry, as they incorporated the worship of Canaanite deities such as Baal and Asherah. This syncretism was a direct violation of the first commandment, which demanded exclusive worship of Yahweh. The Book of Kings frequently records the Israelites' failure to remove high places, even under otherwise righteous kings. For example, 1 Kings 15:14 notes, "But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless, Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days."

Divine Displeasure

The persistence of high places was a significant factor in God's displeasure with Israel and Judah. The prophets repeatedly condemned the practice, warning of divine judgment. In 2 Kings 17:10-12, the text states, "They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. They burned incense on all the high places, like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger."

Reform Efforts

Several kings attempted to reform the religious practices of the Israelites by removing high places. King Hezekiah is noted for his efforts to centralize worship in Jerusalem and eliminate high places, as recorded in 2 Kings 18:4: "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles." Similarly, King Josiah's reforms included the desecration of high places to prevent their use for idolatry (2 Kings 23:8-9).

Theological Implications

The use of high places by the Jews serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising true worship with pagan practices. It underscores the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the centralization of worship as prescribed in the Torah. The persistence of high places highlights the struggle between faithfulness to God and the temptation to conform to surrounding cultures.

Conclusion

The narrative of high places in the Old Testament reflects the ongoing tension between the Israelites' covenantal obligations and their inclination towards idolatry. Despite repeated warnings and reforms, the allure of high places remained a stumbling block, ultimately contributing to the downfall of both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Kings 14:22,23
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 78:58
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Concerning John of Gischala. Concerning the Zealots and the High ...
... am called by that most venerable name [of high priest], still ... brought up in our customs,
and called Jews, do walk about in the midst of the holy places, at the ...
/.../chapter 3 concerning john of.htm

A Kingdom's Epitaph
... there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did ... courage which were needed
to keep the Jews from becoming ... among the pastures there was a high place, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a kingdoms epitaph.htm

Christian Perfection
... or months, he causeth them to "ride on high places;" [Deut.32 ... any man hath attained,
or in how high a degree ... one of the holiest men among the Jews; and, Secondly ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 40 christian perfection.htm

How the War of the Jews with the Romans Began, and Concerning ...
... cunning sophister, and had formerly reproached the Jews under Cyrenius ... Now the overthrow
of the places of strength, and the death of the high priest Ananias ...
/.../chapter 17 how the war.htm

How Upon the Quarrel Between Antiochus Grypus and Antiochus ...
... that he openly betrayed Scythopolis, and other places near it ... who were one of the
sects of the Jews, as we ... cause he ought to lay down the high priesthood, the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 how upon the.htm

The Persecutions of the Apostolic Church, and Its Condition at the ...
... he had, to a dangerous extent, provoked the wrath of ... about Cyrene," [173:6] for if
Jews from that ... The high places of idolatrous worship often exercised a most ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter xi the persecutions of.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Senate And Of Caesar To Be Made King Of The Jews. ... 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/

"But if Ye have Bitter Envying," &C.
... and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places, or heavenly things ... But how much
is he stirred and provoked upon the ... The Jews had a zeal for God, but not ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon v but if ye.htm

Nineveh.
... down idols, and destroying the high places and groves ... for their connection with the
Jews; and then ... last his carelessness and violence provoked the Babylonians ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

On Idolatry
... of it which anciently prevailed among Jews and gentiles ... are often said to have "provoked
God to jealousy with ... whether by building temples, high places or groves ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 23 on idolatry.htm

Resources
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

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

High

High Day

High Gate or Gate Of Benjamin

High Place

High Places

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: Arnon

High Places: Asa Destroys

High Places: Aven

High Places: Baal

High Places: Bamah

High Places: Built By Ahaz

High Places: Built By Jehoram

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: Built By Solomon

High Places: Destroyed: Asa, Partially

High Places: Destroyed: Hezekiah

High Places: Destroyed: Jehoshaphat

High Places: Destroyed: Josiah

High Places: Enchantments Used Upon

High Places: Gibeon

High Places: God Sometimes Worshipped On

High Places: Hezekiah Destroys

High Places: Jehoshaphat Destroys

High Places: Josiah 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

High Places: Tophet

High Places6813 Priest

High Priest

High Things

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

Annas (4 Occurrences)

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)

Asherahs (23 Occurrences)

Shrines (40 Occurrences)

Asherim (20 Occurrences)

Ashe'rim (19 Occurrences)

Assembled (186 Occurrences)

Columns (17 Occurrences)

Ashe'rah (18 Occurrences)

Ananias (11 Occurrences)

Abiathar (29 Occurrences)

Alcimus

Armenia (2 Occurrences)

Azariah (47 Occurrences)

Struck (373 Occurrences)

Standing-pillars (9 Occurrences)

Stronghold (68 Occurrences)

Shrine (34 Occurrences)

Ahimelech (17 Occurrences)

Altars (55 Occurrences)

Asherah (40 Occurrences)

Zerub'babel (23 Occurrences)

Sanhedrin (19 Occurrences)

Cedar-wood (22 Occurrences)

Asiarch

Ararat (4 Occurrences)

Ahimaaz (15 Occurrences)

Starry (14 Occurrences)

Shealtiel (12 Occurrences)

Smote (281 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Smashed (22 Occurrences)

Arch (24 Occurrences)

Spreading (74 Occurrences)

Chains (100 Occurrences)

Shebna (9 Occurrences)

Sorts (65 Occurrences)

Zerubbabel (25 Occurrences)

Seat (256 Occurrences)

Cracks (9 Occurrences)

Addressed (23 Occurrences)

Aloft (3 Occurrences)

Ahitub (16 Occurrences)

Apples (11 Occurrences)

Antiochians

Ahijah (23 Occurrences)

Abased (17 Occurrences)

Aloes (5 Occurrences)

Answerest (12 Occurrences)

Sun-images (6 Occurrences)

Stalk (7 Occurrences)

Sanhedrim (20 Occurrences)

Stamped (27 Occurrences)

Sela (5 Occurrences)

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)

Securely (43 Occurrences)

Sovereignty (14 Occurrences)

She-al'ti-el (10 Occurrences)

Aaron (343 Occurrences)

Sadducees (14 Occurrences)

Attached (31 Occurrences)

Assur (2 Occurrences)

Sherghat

Appointeth (28 Occurrences)

Shoots (32 Occurrences)

Sacrifices (186 Occurrences)

Apart (228 Occurrences)

Associates (26 Occurrences)

Asshur (133 Occurrences)

Sacrificed (112 Occurrences)

Seated (252 Occurrences)

Zadok (50 Occurrences)

Stature (22 Occurrences)

Sheweth (34 Occurrences)

Started (51 Occurrences)

Abram (48 Occurrences)

Collected (55 Occurrences)

Sanballat (10 Occurrences)

Kingdoms (65 Occurrences)

High Places: The Jews: Condemned for Building
Top of Page
Top of Page