Topical Encyclopedia High places, or "bamot" in Hebrew, were elevated sites often used for worship and religious rituals. In the context of ancient Israel, these sites became a significant point of contention between the worship of Yahweh and the idolatrous practices that infiltrated the nation. The use of high places is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where they are frequently associated with the worship of foreign gods and the syncretism that plagued Israel and Judah.The Israelites were explicitly commanded to worship Yahweh in the place He chose, which was ultimately the temple in Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 12:2-5 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. Break 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. You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling." Despite these clear instructions, the Israelites frequently fell into the practice of using high places for worship, often incorporating pagan rituals and deities. This disobedience led to severe consequences, as God punished the nation for their idolatry and unfaithfulness. One of the most notable instances of punishment for the use of high places occurred during the reign of King Solomon. Although Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he also erected high places for the gods of his foreign wives, leading Israel into idolatry. As a result, God declared that the kingdom would be torn from Solomon's son, Rehoboam, leading to the division of the united monarchy (1 Kings 11:11-13). The northern kingdom of Israel, under Jeroboam, institutionalized the use of high places as a means to prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem for worship. This act of rebellion against God's command led to the eventual downfall and exile of Israel by the Assyrians, as recorded in 2 Kings 17:7-18 . The text highlights that the Israelites "worshiped on all the high places like the nations the LORD had driven out before them" (2 Kings 17:11), which provoked the Lord's anger. Similarly, the southern kingdom of Judah was not immune to the allure of high places. Despite periods of reform under kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, who attempted to eradicate these sites, the persistent return to high places contributed to Judah's downfall. The prophet Jeremiah warned of the impending judgment due to Judah's idolatry, stating, "They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind" (Jeremiah 19:5). Ultimately, Judah's continued disobedience led to the Babylonian exile. The use of high places serves as a poignant reminder of the Israelites' struggle with idolatry and the severe consequences of turning away from God's prescribed form of worship. The biblical narrative consistently underscores the importance of faithfulness to God's commands and the dangers of syncretism and idolatry. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 17:11,18And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and worked wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: Torrey's Topical Textbook Library First Commandment First Stage of Jewish Trial. Examination by Annas. The Tears of Christ. Herod Ejects Antigonus, the Son of Aristobulus Out of Judea, and ... Reformation The Death of Moses Benares as a Mission Sphere. What Befell the Jews that were in Babylon on Occasion of Asineus ... How Xerxes the Son of Darius was Well Disposed to the Jews; as ... Many Tumults under Cumanus, which were Composed by Quadratus. ... 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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