Topical Encyclopedia The term "high places" refers to elevated sites that were commonly used for worship and religious rituals in ancient Canaanite culture. These sites were often located on hills or mountains and were considered sacred spaces where the Canaanites would perform sacrifices and other religious ceremonies to their deities. The high places were typically equipped with altars, stone pillars, and wooden poles known as Asherah poles, which were associated with the worship of various gods and goddesses, including Baal and Asherah.In the context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of Canaan, the high places represented a significant challenge to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. The Israelites were commanded by God to destroy these high places as part of their mandate to purify the land from idolatry and pagan practices. This directive is rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where exclusive worship of Yahweh was a fundamental requirement. The command to destroy the high places is explicitly stated in several passages of the Old Testament. In Numbers 33:52, the Israelites are instructed: "you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places." Similarly, in Deuteronomy 12:2-3, the Israelites are commanded: "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. Tear 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." The destruction of the high places was not merely a physical act but also a spiritual cleansing, intended to eliminate the influence of Canaanite religious practices and to establish a society centered on the worship of Yahweh alone. The high places were seen as a direct threat to the covenantal faithfulness of the Israelites, as they often became sites of syncretism and apostasy, where the worship of Yahweh was mixed with pagan rituals. Throughout the history of Israel, the high places remained a persistent issue. Despite the initial efforts to eradicate them, many Israelites continued to use these sites for worship, leading to periods of religious decline and apostasy. The books of Kings and Chronicles frequently mention the high places in the context of the reigns of various kings, noting whether they were removed or allowed to remain. For instance, 2 Kings 18:4 records that Hezekiah "removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles," demonstrating his commitment to religious reform. The struggle against the high places underscores the broader biblical theme of the necessity for purity in worship and the dangers of idolatry. The high places serve as a symbol of the constant tension between the call to holiness and the temptation to conform to surrounding cultures. The biblical narrative consistently emphasizes the importance of exclusive devotion to Yahweh and the rejection of all forms of idolatry, as encapsulated in the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 33:52Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Earlier Hebrew Histories. A Kingdom's Epitaph Deuteronomy The Nations of the South-East Though Many Other Widows came Near to Judith in virtue... Canaan How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The The Incarnation and Birth of Christ How the Hebrews Fought with the Midianites, and Overcame Them. The Vanguard and Rereward of the Church Resources Why did Solomon worship at a high place? | GotQuestions.orgWhat 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 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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