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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_kings/18-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/12_2Ki_18_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Kings 18:4 - Hezekiah Destroys Idolatry in Judah" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_kings/18-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_kings/18-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_kings/">2 Kings</a> > <a href="/2_kings/18.htm">Chapter 18</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_kings/18-3.htm" title="2 Kings 18:3">◄</a> 2 Kings 18:4 <a href="/2_kings/18-5.htm" title="2 Kings 18:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/2_kings/18.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/2_kings/18.htm">New International Version</a> He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) <a href="/nlt/2_kings/18.htm">New Living Translation</a> He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. <a href="/esv/2_kings/18.htm">English Standard Version</a> He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). <a href="/bsb/2_kings/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it. <a href="/kjv/2_kings/18.htm">King James Bible</a> He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. <a href="/nkjv/2_kings/18.htm">New King James Version</a> He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. <a href="/nasb_/2_kings/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> He removed the high places and smashed the memorial stones to pieces, and cut down the Asherah. He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel had been burning incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. <a href="/nasb/2_kings/18.htm">NASB 1995</a> He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. <a href="/nasb77/2_kings/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a> He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. <a href="/lsb/2_kings/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> He took away the high places and shattered the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel were burning incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan. <a href="/amp/2_kings/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He removed the high places [of pagan worship], broke down the images (memorial stones) and cut down the Asherim. He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the Israelites had burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan [a bronze sculpture]. <a href="/csb/2_kings/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for until then the Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan. <a href="/hcsb/2_kings/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for the Israelites burned incense to it up to that time. He called it Nehushtan. <a href="/asv/2_kings/18.htm">American Standard Version</a> He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. <a href="/cev/2_kings/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He destroyed the local shrines, then tore down the images of foreign gods and cut down the sacred pole for worshiping the goddess Asherah. He also smashed the bronze snake Moses had made. The people had named it Nehushtan and had been offering sacrifices to it. <a href="/erv/2_kings/18.htm">English Revised Version</a> He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: And he brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. <a href="/gwt/2_kings/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> He got rid of the illegal places of worship, crushed the sacred stones, and cut down the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. He even crushed the bronze snake that Moses had made because up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. They called it Nehushtan. <a href="/gnt/2_kings/18.htm">Good News Translation</a> He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor. <a href="/isv/2_kings/18.htm">International Standard Version</a> He removed the high places, demolished the sacred pillars, and tore down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had crafted, because the Israelis had been burning incense to it right up until that time. Hezekiah called it a piece of brass. <a href="/msb/2_kings/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it. <a href="/net/2_kings/18.htm">NET Bible</a> He eliminated the high places, smashed the sacred pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah pole. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan. <a href="/nheb/2_kings/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. <a href="/wbt/2_kings/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for till those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. <a href="/web/2_kings/18.htm">World English Bible</a> He removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the children of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/2_kings/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> he has turned aside the high places, and broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cut down the Asherah, and beaten down the bronze serpent that Moses made, for up to these days the sons of Israel were making incense to it, and he calls it “a piece of bronze.” <a href="/ylt/2_kings/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> he hath turned aside the high places, and broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrine, and beaten down the brazen serpent that Moses made, for unto these days were the sons of Israel making perfume to it, and he calleth it 'a piece of brass.' <a href="/slt/2_kings/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> He removed the heights, and he brake in pieces the statues, and he cut off the image, and he beat down the serpent of brass which Moses made: for till those days the sons of Israel were burning incense to it and they called it brass.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/2_kings/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> He destroyed the n high places, and broke the statues in pieces, and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called its name Nohestan. <a href="/cpdv/2_kings/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> He destroyed the high places, and he crushed the statues, and he cut down the sacred groves. And he broke apart the bronze serpent, which Moses had made. For even until that time, the sons of Israel were burning incense to it. And he called its name Nehushtan. <a href="/nabre/2_kings/18.htm">New American Bible</a> It was he who removed the high places, shattered the pillars, cut down the asherah, and smashed the bronze serpent Moses had made, because up to that time the Israelites were burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) <a href="/nrsvce/2_kings/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He removed the high places, broke down the pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/2_kings/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> He removed the high places and broke the images and cut down the idols and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for the children of Israel had gone astray after it, and until those days they did burn incense to it; and they called it Nehushtan. <a href="/hpbt/2_kings/18.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And he removed the high places and he shattered monuments and cut down idols and cut down the serpent of brass that Moshe had made, because the children of Israel had strayed after it and they were setting incense for it until those days, and they called it Nekheshtan.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/2_kings/18.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah; and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did offer to it; and it was called Nehushtan. <a href="/sep/2_kings/18.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> He removed the high places, and broke in pieces the pillars, and utterly destroyed the groves, and the brazen serpent which Moses made: because until those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Neesthan. <a href="/parallel/2_kings/18-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiLs3w_mMFQ?start=6182" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/2_kings/18.htm">Hezekiah Destroys Idolatry in Judah</a> …3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. 4<a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5493.htm" title="5493: hê·sîr (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To turn aside. Or suwr; a primitive root; to turn off.">He removed</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1116.htm" title="1116: hab·bā·mō·wṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- A high place. From an unused root; an elevation.">the high places,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7665.htm" title="7665: wə·šib·bar (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To break, break in pieces. A primitive root; to burst.">shattered</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4676.htm" title="4676: ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇōṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- A pillar, stump. Feminine participle of natsab; something stationed, i.e. A column or; by analogy, an idol.">the sacred pillars,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3772.htm" title="3772: wə·ḵā·raṯ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">and cut down</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/842.htm" title="842: hā·’ă·šê·rāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Or masheyrah; from 'ashar; happy; Asherah a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same.">the Asherah poles.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3807.htm" title="3807: wə·ḵit·taṯ (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To beat, crush by beating. A primitive root; to bruise or violently strike.">He also demolished</a> <a href="/hebrew/5178.htm" title="5178: han·nə·ḥō·šeṯ (Art:: N-fs) -- Copper, bronze. For nchuwshah; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. Coin, a fetter; figuratively, base.">the bronze</a> <a href="/hebrew/5175.htm" title="5175: nə·ḥaš (N-msc) -- A serpent. From nachash; a snake.">snake</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: way·yiq·rā- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">called</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5180.htm" title="5180: nə·ḥuš·tān (N-proper-ms) -- The name of Moses' bronze serpent. From nchosheth; something made of copper, i.e. The copper serpent of the Desert.">Nehushtan</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">Moses</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">had made,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ- (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">up to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hā·hêm·māh (Art:: Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yā·mîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">time</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇə·nê- (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the Israelites</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6999.htm" title="6999: mə·qaṭ·ṭə·rîm (V-Piel-Prtcpl-mp) -- To make sacrifices smoke. A primitive root; to smoke, i.e. Turn into fragrance by fire.">had burned incense</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">to it.</a> 5Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/numbers/21-8.htm">Numbers 21:8-9</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” / So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live. <a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14-15</a> Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, / that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. <a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4-5</a> You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. <a href="/2_chronicles/31-1.htm">2 Chronicles 31:1</a> When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property. <a href="/isaiah/30-22.htm">Isaiah 30:22</a> So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!” <a href="/2_chronicles/34-3.htm">2 Chronicles 34:3-7</a> In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images. / Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. / Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. ... <a href="/2_kings/23-4.htm">2 Kings 23:4-14</a> Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests second in rank, and the doorkeepers to remove from the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the host of heaven. And he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. / Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. / He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people. ... <a href="/1_kings/15-12.htm">1 Kings 15:12-13</a> He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. / He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. <a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a> Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. <a href="/2_chronicles/29-3.htm">2 Chronicles 29:3-5</a> In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened and repaired the doors of the house of the LORD. / Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side. / “Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity. <a href="/2_chronicles/15-8.htm">2 Chronicles 15:8</a> When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. <a href="/isaiah/2-20.htm">Isaiah 2:20</a> In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship. <a href="/hosea/10-5.htm">Hosea 10:5-6</a> The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced in its glory—for it has been taken from them into exile. / Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols. <a href="/acts/19-19.htm">Acts 19:19</a> And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.removed<a href="/2_kings/12-3.htm">2 Kings 12:3</a> But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.<a href="/2_kings/14-4.htm">2 Kings 14:4</a> Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.<a href="/2_kings/15-4.htm">2 Kings 15:4,35</a> Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places… brake<a href="/2_kings/23-4.htm">2 Kings 23:4</a> And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.<a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.<a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2,3</a> Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: … images [heb] statues <a href="/numbers/21-8.htm">Numbers 21:8,9</a> And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live… <a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14,15</a> And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: … unto those days<a href="/2_kings/16-15.htm">2 Kings 16:15</a> And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by.Nehushtan that is, a piece of brass<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/17-16.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/2_kings/14-13.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-17.htm">Brazen</a> <a href="/2_kings/14-13.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-17.htm">Bronze</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-15.htm">Burn</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-31.htm">Burnt</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-41.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-17.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Groves</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-32.htm">High</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-41.htm">Images</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-11.htm">Incense</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-1.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/14-6.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-36.htm">Offer</a> <a href="/2_kings/11-18.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-32.htm">Places</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-33.htm">Removed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/8-15.htm">Serpent</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_kings/21-3.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-7.htm">Brake</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-7.htm">Brazen</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-36.htm">Broke</a> <a href="/2_kings/25-7.htm">Bronze</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-17.htm">Burn</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-8.htm">Burnt</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-3.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-16.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">Groves</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-22.htm">High</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">Images</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-17.htm">Incense</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-5.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-6.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-5.htm">Offer</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-14.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-16.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-22.htm">Places</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-11.htm">Removed</a> <a href="/job/26-13.htm">Serpent</a><div class="vheading2">2 Kings 18</div>1. <a href="/2_kings/18-1.htm">Hezekiah's good reign</a> 4. <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">He destroys idolatry, and prospers</a> 9. <a href="/2_kings/18-9.htm">The inhabitants of Samaria are carried captive for their sins</a> 13. <a href="/2_kings/18-13.htm">Sennacherib invading Judah, is pacified by a tribute</a> 17. <a href="/2_kings/18-17.htm">Rabshakeh, by blasphemous persuasions, solicits the people to revolt</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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They were used for both pagan and Yahwistic worship, but God commanded centralized worship in Jerusalem (<a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2-5</a>). The removal of these sites by Hezekiah was a significant reform, aligning with God's command and distinguishing true worship from syncretism.shattered the sacred pillars Sacred pillars, or standing stones, were often associated with Canaanite religious practices and idolatry. These pillars were sometimes used in the worship of Baal and other deities. By shattering them, Hezekiah was purging the land of idolatrous symbols, in obedience to God's law (<a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24</a>).and cut down the Asherah poles Asherah poles were wooden symbols representing the goddess Asherah, often placed near altars of Baal. Cutting them down was a direct attack on the fertility cults that had infiltrated Israelite worship. This act was in line with the command in <a href="/deuteronomy/16-21.htm">Deuteronomy 16:21-22</a>, which prohibited the planting of Asherah poles beside the altar of the Lord.He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made The bronze snake was originally created by Moses (<a href="/numbers/21-8.htm">Numbers 21:8-9</a>) as a means for the Israelites to be healed from snake bites. Over time, it became an object of idolatry. By destroying it, Hezekiah was removing a stumbling block to true worship, emphasizing that even objects with a godly origin can become idols if misused.for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it Burning incense was a form of worship, and the Israelites had turned the bronze snake into an idol. This practice violated the first and second commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>). Hezekiah's reform was a return to monotheistic worship, focusing solely on Yahweh, and it prefigures the cleansing work of Christ, who calls for worship in spirit and truth (<a href="/john/4-24.htm">John 4:24</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah</a> The king of Judah who initiated religious reforms to restore true worship of Yahweh by removing idolatrous practices. 2. <a href="/topical/h/high_places.htm">High Places</a> Elevated sites where unauthorized worship and sacrifices were made, often associated with idolatry. 3. <a href="/topical/s/sacred_pillars_and_asherah_poles.htm">Sacred Pillars and Asherah Poles</a> Objects used in the worship of Canaanite deities, representing idolatrous practices that Hezekiah sought to eliminate. 4. <a href="/topical/b/bronze_serpent.htm">Bronze Serpent (Nehushtan)</a> Originally created by Moses as a means of divine healing (<a href="/numbers/21-8.htm">Numbers 21:8-9</a>), it had become an object of idolatrous worship. 5. <a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a> The prophet and leader who made the bronze serpent at God's command during the Israelites' wilderness journey.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_idolatry.htm">The Dangers of Idolatry</a> Idolatry can arise even from objects or traditions initially intended for good. We must guard against allowing anything to take the place of God in our lives. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_reform.htm">The Importance of Reform</a> Like Hezekiah, we should be willing to make difficult changes to align our lives with God's will, even if it means breaking with tradition. <a href="/topical/s/symbolism_and_substance.htm">Symbolism and Substance</a> The bronze serpent's transformation from a symbol of God's power to an idol warns us to focus on the substance of our faith rather than mere symbols. <a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_courage.htm">Leadership and Courage</a> Hezekiah's actions demonstrate the courage required to lead others in spiritual renewal, a call for leaders today to stand firm in truth. <a href="/topical/h/historical_context_and_modern_application.htm">Historical Context and Modern Application</a> Understanding the historical context of biblical events helps us apply their lessons to contemporary issues of faith and practice.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_kings/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) He removed.--He it was who removed. According to this statement, Hezekiah made the Temple of Jerusalem the only place where Jehovah might be publicly worshipped. (Comp. <a href="/2_kings/18-22.htm" title="But if you say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?">2Kings 18:22</a>, and the fuller account in <a href="/context/2_chronicles/29-3.htm" title="He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.">2Chronicles 29:3-36</a>.)Brake the images.--Shattered the pillars (<a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm" title="For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.">1Kings 14:23</a>; <a href="/hosea/3-4.htm" title="For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:">Hosea 3:4</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/14-2.htm" title="And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:">2Chronicles 14:2</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_kings/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 4. - He removed the high places. This was a comparatively late step in Hezekiah's religious reformation. He began, as we learn from Chronicles (<a href="/2_chronicles/29-3.htm">2 Chronicles 29:3, 17</a>), "in the first year of his reign, the first month, and the first day," by reopening the temple, which Ahaz had shut up, removing from it all the "filthiness" which Ahaz had allowed to accumulate (<a href="/2_chronicles/29-5.htm">2 Chronicles 29:5</a>), gathering together the priests and Levites and exhorting them (<a href="/2_chronicles/29-4.htm">2 Chronicles 29:4-11</a>), restoring and renewing the vessels which Ahaz had cut in pieces (<a href="/2_chronicles/29-19.htm">2 Chronicles 29:19</a>), and then re-establishing the temple-worship with all due solemnity (<a href="/2_chronicles/29-20.htm">2 Chronicles 29:20-35</a>). He next resolved on holding a grand Passover-festival, in the second month, as it had not been possible to keep it in the first (<a href="/2_chronicles/30-2.htm">2 Chronicles 30:2, 3</a>), and invited thereto, not only his own subjects, but the Israelites of the neighboring kingdom who were not yet carried off, but were still under the rule of Hoshea (<a href="/2_chronicles/30-10.htm">2 Chronicles 30:10, 11, 18</a>). It was not until this festival was over that the removal of the high places was taken in hand. Then, in a fit of zeal, which no doubt the king encouraged, a multitude of those who had kept the feast went forth from Jerusalem, first into the cities of Judah and Benjamin, and then into several of the cities of Israel, and "brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars... and utterly destroyed them all" (see <a href="/2_chronicles/31-1.htm">2 Chronicles 31:1</a>). And brake the images, and cut down the groves; literally, the grove, according to the present text; but, as all the versions have the plural, Thenius thinks אֲשֵׁרָה should be changed into אֲשֵׁרִים. Keil and Bahr, on the contrary, would retain the singular, but understand it "collectively." That idolatry was practiced at some of the high places seems clear from this place, as well as from <a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23</a>. And brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made (see <a href="/numbers/21-9.htm">Numbers 21:9</a>). Difficulties are raised with respect to this statement. Some argue that the serpent, having served its purpose, would have been left hanging at the place where it was set up in the wilderness; others, that Moses would have destroyed it, lest the Israelites should make it an idol; others, again, that it was not likely to have lasted seven hundred years from the Exodus, even if it was brought into Palestine and taken care cf. It is supposed, therefore, that an imitation of the original serpent had been made by the Jews in the reign of Ahaz, had been called "the serpent Of Moses," and was now destroyed. But there is no sufficient reason for any of these suppositions. Considering what the serpent typified (<a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14</a>), it is not surprising that Moses should have been instructed to preserve it with the furniture of the tabernacle, or that, when once attached to that structure, it should have been preserved as a religious relic for seven hundred years. Many Egyptian figures in bronze now exist which are from three thousand to four thousand years old. The statement of the writer of Kings, that Hezekiah did now destroy "the serpent that Moses had made," is of more weight than a thousand speculations concerning what is likely, or not likely, to have happened. For unto these days the children of Israel did burn incense to it. Not, certainly, "from Moses' time to Hezekiah's," but from a date left vague and undetermined to the time when Hezekiah took his religious reformation in hand. Hezekiah found the practice continuing; the writer is not concerned to say - perhaps does net know - when it began. He implies, however, that it was of long standing. Serpent-worship was widely spread in the East, and there was more excuse for directing religious regard toward this serpent than toward any other. And he called it Nehushtan; rather, and it was called Nehushtan. יקרא is a singular with indefinite subject ("one called"), equivalent to "they called," or "it was called" (comp. <a href="/genesis/25-26.htm">Genesis 25:26</a>; <a href="/genesis/38-29.htm">Genesis 38:29, 30</a>). Nehushtan is not from נחשׁ "serpent," but from נחשׁת, "brass," and means "the little brass thing," ן being a diminutive, expression of tenderness. <a href="/commentaries/2_kings/18-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>He removed הֵסִ֣יר (hê·sîr) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5493.htm">Strong's 5493: </a> To turn aside the high places, הַבָּמ֗וֹת (hab·bā·mō·wṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1116.htm">Strong's 1116: </a> An elevation shattered וְשִׁבַּר֙ (wə·šib·bar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7665.htm">Strong's 7665: </a> To break, break in pieces the sacred pillars, הַמַּצֵּבֹ֔ת (ham·maṣ·ṣê·ḇōṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4676.htm">Strong's 4676: </a> Something stationed, a column, an idol and cut down וְכָרַ֖ת (wə·ḵā·raṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant the Asherah poles. הָֽאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה (hā·’ă·šê·rāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_842.htm">Strong's 842: </a> A Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same He also demolished וְכִתַּת֩ (wə·ḵit·taṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3807.htm">Strong's 3807: </a> To bruise, violently strike the bronze הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת (han·nə·ḥō·šeṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5178.htm">Strong's 5178: </a> Copper, something made of that metal, coin, a fetter, base serpent נְחַ֨שׁ (nə·ḥaš) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5175.htm">Strong's 5175: </a> A serpent called וַיִּקְרָא־ (way·yiq·rā-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> To call, proclaim, read Nehushtan נְחֻשְׁתָּֽן׃ (nə·ḥuš·tān) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5180.htm">Strong's 5180: </a> Nehushtan -- the name of Moses' bronze serpent that אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver had made, עָשָׂ֣ה (‘ā·śāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction up to עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while that הָהֵ֙מָּה֙ (hā·hêm·māh) Article | Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They time הַיָּמִ֤ים (hay·yā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day the Israelites בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son had burned incense מְקַטְּרִ֣ים (mə·qaṭ·ṭə·rîm) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6999.htm">Strong's 6999: </a> To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire to it. ל֔וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_0.htm">Strong's 0: </a> 0 <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">OT History: 2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places and broke (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_kings/18-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Kings 18:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Kings 18:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_kings/18-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Kings 18:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Kings 18:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>