1 Kings 3

1 Kings 3:2

High places] High places called so, because mostwhat on Mountains, Esay LVII. 7. whence named Bamah, Ezek. XX. 28, 29. There they built houses of the High Places, Temples, Chappels, Altars, &c. and put their Idols and Images there, and decked all with Tapistry, and garments of divers colours. They made Priests of the High places; and there they sacrificed, yea, sometimes their children; and burnt Incense, 1 King. XII. 31, 32. 2 King. XVII. 29, 32. Ezek. XVI. 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31.

Ier. XIX. 5. The High places of Heathen Idolaters were alwayes abominable. These High places God commands the Israelites to destroy, and quite pluck down, Num. XXXIII. 52. While the Ark, and Tabernacle were parted one from the other; and both from Shiloh; and removed from place to place, till the building of the Temple, and there fixed and setled; We read of High places lawfully resorted to, and used, by Samuel, 1 Sam. IX. 12, 13, 14, 19, 25. and by others, chap. X. 5, 12, 13.

And not much unlawfully by these here, 1 King. III. 2, 3. And Gibeon it self, when the Tabernacle and Altar, were there, is called the Great High place, 1 King III. 4. But when the Temple was since built, then all other High places for Gods solemneworship, and Ceremonial Services were counted abominable. And in this sin, the ten Tribes, after the division of the Kingdomes by Ieroboam, continualy abounded. They made houses and Priests of High places, in Mountains, and in all the Cities of Samaria, and their Altars were as heaps in the furrows of the fields, 1 King. XIII. 32. Hos.

XII. 11. Yea, and Solomon himself, afore that, in his later dayes, fearfully offended in this kinde, 1 King. XI. 7. 8. And Iudah it self fell into this sin, even in Rehoboams reigne, 1 King. XIV. 23. And in after-times, They built High places to Baal, and to the Idols of neighbouring Nations, 2 Chr. XXV. 14. in Tophet, in the Valley of the sonne of Hinnom, on Mount Olivet, in Hierusalem, in all the Cities of Iudah, and in every street of the Cities, Micah I. 5. 1 King. XIV. 23.

Ier. VII. 31. and XIX. 5. and XXXII. 35. Ezek. XVI. 16, 31. And this specialy in the reignes of Ahaz, Ioram, and Manasseh. And in the reignes of divers good Kings of Iudah, as Ioash, Amatziah, Vzziah, Iotham, it is recorded as a blemish in them, That they did not take away the High places, but the people sacrificed, and burnt Incense in them. Of good Asa it is said, that he did, and he did not take them away, 1 King. XV. 14 2 Chron.

XV. 17. And so of Iehoshaphat, 2 Chron XVII. 6. and XX. 33 1 King. XXII. 43 The meaning is, They took away those High places which were for Idols and strange gods, not those which were for Gods worship: or they laboured in the Reformation of these later also; but through the peoples waywardnesse, could not therein fully prevaile In the Reformation of Manasseh upon his Repentance, it is said That neverthelesse the people did sacrifice still in the High places, yet unto the Lord their God only, 2 Chron XXXIII. 17 But zealous Hezekiah and Iosiah, went through-stitch with all.