Topical Encyclopedia High places, known in Hebrew as "bamot," were elevated sites often used for religious rituals and worship in ancient Israel and surrounding regions. These sites were typically located on hills or raised platforms and were associated with both legitimate and illegitimate worship practices throughout the biblical narrative. The use of high places is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, reflecting the tension between the worship of Yahweh and the idolatrous practices that infiltrated Israelite society.Biblical References and Historical Context High places are first mentioned in the context of Canaanite worship, where they were used for the veneration of various deities, including Baal and Asherah. The Israelites were explicitly commanded to destroy these sites upon entering the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 12:2-3 , God instructs the Israelites: "Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods. Tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and burn up their Asherah poles." Despite these clear instructions, the Israelites frequently fell into the practice of using high places for idolatrous worship. This disobedience is highlighted throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. For instance, 1 Kings 14:23 states, "They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree." Religious Practices and Significance High places were often equipped with altars, sacred stones, and wooden poles or images representing deities. These sites served as centers for various religious activities, including sacrifices, offerings, and sometimes even human sacrifices, as seen in the worship of Molech. The allure of high places was partly due to their association with fertility rites and the belief that worship on elevated ground brought one closer to the divine. The use of high places was not limited to pagan worship; at times, they were also used for the worship of Yahweh, especially before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, this practice was not in accordance with God's command to centralize worship in the Temple. King Solomon, despite his wisdom, allowed the worship at high places to continue, as noted in 1 Kings 3:3 : "Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places." Reform and Opposition Throughout Israel's history, several kings attempted to reform the religious practices of the nation by removing high places. King Hezekiah is noted for his efforts to centralize worship in Jerusalem and eliminate idolatrous practices. 2 Kings 18:4 records, "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles." Similarly, King Josiah undertook significant religious reforms, as described in 2 Kings 23:13 : "The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem, on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king 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." Theological Implications The persistent use of high places for idolatrous worship highlights the struggle of the Israelites to remain faithful to the covenant with Yahweh. The high places symbolize the temptation to conform to surrounding cultures and the challenge of maintaining pure worship. The biblical narrative consistently portrays the use of high places for idolatry as a deviation from God's commands, leading to spiritual and national decline. The prophets frequently condemned the high places, associating them with Israel's unfaithfulness and calling the people back to exclusive worship of Yahweh. The struggle against idolatry and the call to destroy high places serve as a reminder of the importance of obedience and the dangers of syncretism in the life of faith. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Kings 11:7,8Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ... Jeroboam Deuteronomy Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory The Second Commandment Reform Youthful Confessors The Persecutions of the Apostolic Church, and Its Condition at the ... Pride of Prosperity The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions. 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 |