High Places
“Heights or elevated places”
Summary
High places were elevated locations used for worship throughout the ancient Near East, sometimes for legitimate worship of Jehovah but more often associated with idolatry and forbidden practices.
☩Nature and Purpose
The Hebrew word bamoth refers to elevated locations—mountains, hills, or artificial platforms—used for religious rites throughout the ancient world. The Canaanites and other nations worshipped celestial bodies and idols upon such heights. Before the temple was built, high places were not strictly forbidden if only Jehovah was worshipped there, and even Samuel offered sacrifices at various high places. However, after the temple's construction, all sacrificial worship was to be centralized at Jerusalem.
☩Idolatrous High Places
High places became inseparably linked with idolatry and licentious practices. The Israelites were commanded to destroy the Canaanite high places but instead imitated the heathen. Solomon himself built high places for the gods of his foreign wives. The term became so common that bamah could refer to a shrine even in a valley or city. Colored tent hangings resembling a harlot's tent were set up at these locations.
☩Reforms and Destruction
The prophets zealously denounced worship at high places. Various reforming kings attempted to remove them: Asa destroyed some high places, as did Jehoshaphat. However, even godly kings often tolerated high places dedicated to Jehovah while removing only idolatrous ones. Hezekiah and Josiah alone removed them utterly, recognizing that they violated both the letter and spirit of the law. Rabshakeh mockingly cited Hezekiah's removal of the high places as an offense against Jehovah, knowing this had provoked opposition among some Jews.
Related Verses102 mentions
References
- 1.Andrew Robert Fausset, "High Places," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 2.American Tract Society, "High Places," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).
- 3.Richard Watson, "High Places," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).