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These were on every high hill and under every luxuriant tree. <a href="/csb/1_kings/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree; <a href="/hcsb/1_kings/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree; <a href="/asv/1_kings/14.htm">American Standard Version</a> For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree; <a href="/cev/1_kings/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> They also built their own local shrines and stone images of foreign gods, and they set up sacred poles for worshiping the goddess Asherah on every hill and in the shade of large trees. <a href="/erv/1_kings/14.htm">English Revised Version</a> For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree; <a href="/gwt/1_kings/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They built worship sites for themselves and [put up] large stones and Asherah poles to worship on every high hill and under every large tree. <a href="/gnt/1_kings/14.htm">Good News Translation</a> They built places of worship for false gods and put up stone pillars and symbols of Asherah to worship on the hills and under shady trees. <a href="/isv/1_kings/14.htm">International Standard Version</a> They erected high places, sacred pillars, and Asherim for themselves on every high hill and under every green tree. <a href="/msb/1_kings/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. <a href="/net/1_kings/14.htm">NET Bible</a> They even built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. <a href="/nheb/1_kings/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree; <a href="/wbt/1_kings/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For they also built for themselves high places, and images and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. <a href="/web/1_kings/14.htm">World English Bible</a> For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_kings/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And they build—they also—for themselves high places, and standing-pillars, and Asherim, on every high height, and under every green tree; <a href="/ylt/1_kings/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And they build -- also they -- for themselves high places, and standing-pillars, and shrines, on every high height, and under every green tree; <a href="/slt/1_kings/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And they will also build to them heights and statues, and pillars, upon every high hill, and, under every green tree.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_kings/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For they also built them altars, and statues, and groves upon every high hill and under every green tree: <a href="/cpdv/1_kings/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For they, too, built for themselves altars, and statues, and sacred groves, upon every high hill and under every leafy tree. <a href="/nabre/1_kings/14.htm">New American Bible</a> They, too, built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and asherahs, upon every high hill and under every green tree. <a href="/nrsvce/1_kings/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For they also built for themselves high places, pillars, and sacred poles on every high hill and under every green tree;<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_kings/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> For they also built for themselves high places and statues and idols on every high hill and under every green tree. <a href="/hpbt/1_kings/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And they built up for themselves also those high places and statues and idols on every high hill that there was, and under every shade tree.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_kings/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every leafy tree; <a href="/sep/1_kings/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And they built for themselves high places, and pillars, and planted groves on every high hill, and under every shady tree. <a href="/parallel/1_kings/14-23.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/Xx9A0AxPaoQ?start=5806" 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/1_kings/14.htm">Rehoboam's Reign in Judah</a> …22And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and by the sins they committed they provoked Him to jealous anger more than all their fathers had done. 23<a href="/hebrew/1992.htm" title="1992: hêm·māh (Pro-3mp) -- They. Or hemmah; masculine plural from halak; they.">They</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: ḡam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. ">also</a> <a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: way·yiḇ·nū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">built</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep-l:: Pro-3mp) -- ">for themselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/1116.htm" title="1116: bā·mō·wṯ (N-fp) -- A high place. From an unused root; an elevation.">high places,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4676.htm" title="4676: ū·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ (Conj-w:: N-fp) -- A pillar, stump. Feminine participle of natsab; something stationed, i.e. A column or; by analogy, an idol.">sacred pillars,</a> <a href="/hebrew/842.htm" title="842: wa·’ă·šê·rîm (Conj-w:: N-fp) -- Or masheyrah; from 'ashar; happy; Asherah a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same.">and Asherah poles</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">every</a> <a href="/hebrew/1364.htm" title="1364: ḡə·ḇō·hāh (Adj-fs) -- High, exalted. Or gabowahh; from gabahh; elevated, powerful, arrogant.">high</a> <a href="/hebrew/1389.htm" title="1389: giḇ·‘āh (N-fs) -- A hill. Feminine from the same as Geba'; a hillock.">hill</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ (Conj-w:: Prep) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">and under</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">every</a> <a href="/hebrew/7488.htm" title="7488: ra·‘ă·nān (Adj-ms) -- Luxuriant, fresh. From an unused root meaning to be green; verdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperous.">green</a> <a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: ‘êṣ (N-ms) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">tree.</a> 24There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.…<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="/2_kings/17-10.htm">2 Kings 17:10-12</a> They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. / They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.” <a href="/2_chronicles/33-3.htm">2 Chronicles 33:3</a> For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven. <a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2-3</a> Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree. / Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. <a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6</a> Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Ezekiel 6:13</a> Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every green tree and leafy oak—the places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols. <a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5-7</a> who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? / Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these? / On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13</a> They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery. <a href="/2_kings/21-3.htm">2 Kings 21:3</a> For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven. <a href="/2_kings/23-5.htm">2 Kings 23:5</a> 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. <a href="/leviticus/26-30.htm">Leviticus 26:30</a> I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you. <a href="/micah/5-14.htm">Micah 5:14</a> I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities. <a href="/2_chronicles/28-4.htm">2 Chronicles 28:4</a> And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. <a href="/2_kings/16-4.htm">2 Kings 16:4</a> And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. <a href="/2_kings/18-4.htm">2 Kings 18:4</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="/2_kings/23-13.htm">2 Kings 23:13</a> The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.built<a href="/1_kings/3-2.htm">1 Kings 3:2</a> Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.<a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2</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:<a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5</a> Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?images.<a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Leviticus 26:1</a> Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.groves<a href="/micah/5-14.htm">Micah 5:14</a> And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.<a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2</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:<a href="/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9,10</a> And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city… under every<a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5</a> Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?<a href="/jeremiah/3-13.htm">Jeremiah 3:13</a> Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/6-30.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Asherahs</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-15.htm">Asherim</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Ashe'rim</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-23.htm">Beneath</a> <a href="/1_kings/11-38.htm">Build</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-31.htm">Built</a> <a href="/joel/2-30.htm">Columns</a> <a href="/judges/16-8.htm">Green</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-15.htm">Groves</a> <a href="/1_kings/7-35.htm">Height</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-7.htm">High</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-25.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-9.htm">Images</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Leafy</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-12.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-33.htm">Places</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-8.htm">Poles</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-4.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-32.htm">Shrines</a> <a href="/micah/5-13.htm">Standing-Pillars</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-18.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-47.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/1_kings/13-14.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-3.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-12.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/15-13.htm">Asherah</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Asherahs</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Asherim</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Ashe'rim</a> <a href="/2_kings/6-30.htm">Beneath</a> <a href="/1_kings/16-34.htm">Build</a> <a href="/1_kings/15-17.htm">Built</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-26.htm">Columns</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-39.htm">Green</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-19.htm">Groves</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Height</a> <a href="/1_kings/15-14.htm">High</a> <a href="/1_kings/16-24.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/1_kings/15-12.htm">Images</a> <a href="/2_kings/16-4.htm">Leafy</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-26.htm">Pillars</a> <a href="/1_kings/15-14.htm">Places</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Poles</a> <a href="/2_kings/3-2.htm">Sacred</a> <a href="/2_kings/17-10.htm">Shrines</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-26.htm">Standing-Pillars</a> <a href="/1_kings/15-22.htm">Stones</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-6.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/2_kings/10-3.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/1_kings/18-23.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">1 Kings 14</div>1. <a href="/1_kings/14-1.htm">Abijah being sick, </a> 2. <a href="/1_kings/14-2.htm">Jeroboam sends his wife, disguised, with presents to the prophet Ahijah</a> 5. <a href="/1_kings/14-5.htm">Ahijah forewarned by God, denounces God's judgment</a> 17. <a href="/1_kings/14-17.htm">Abijah dies, and is buried</a> 19. <a href="/1_kings/14-19.htm">Nadab succeeds Jeroboam</a> 21. <a href="/1_kings/14-21.htm">Rehoboam's wicked reign,</a> 25. <a href="/1_kings/14-25.htm">Shishak raids Jerusalem</a> 29. <a href="/1_kings/14-29.htm">Abijam succeeds Rehoboam</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_kings/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>They also built for themselves high places High places were elevated sites often used for worship in ancient Israel and surrounding regions. These locations were typically chosen for their height, which was believed to bring worshippers closer to the divine. In the context of <a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23</a>, the construction of high places indicates a departure from the centralized worship in Jerusalem, as prescribed in <a href="/deuteronomy/12-5.htm">Deuteronomy 12:5-14</a>. This act of building high places reflects the Israelites' disobedience and syncretism, as they adopted pagan practices contrary to God's commands.sacred pillars Sacred pillars, or standing stones, were often erected as memorials or objects of worship. In the ancient Near East, these pillars were associated with Canaanite religious practices and were often dedicated to deities. The use of sacred pillars by the Israelites signifies their assimilation of pagan customs, which was explicitly forbidden in passages like <a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Exodus 23:24</a> and <a href="/deuteronomy/16-22.htm">Deuteronomy 16:22</a>. These pillars were a physical representation of idolatry and a violation of the covenant relationship with Yahweh.and Asherah poles Asherah poles were wooden symbols associated with the worship of the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often considered a consort of Baal. The presence of Asherah poles among the Israelites indicates a blending of Canaanite fertility cults with the worship of Yahweh. This syncretism was condemned in the Law, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> and <a href="/judges/3-7.htm">Judges 3:7</a>, where the Israelites are instructed to destroy such objects. The poles were a direct affront to the exclusive worship of Yahweh and contributed to the spiritual decline of the nation.on every high hill The phrase "on every high hill" emphasizes the widespread nature of idolatrous practices among the Israelites. High hills were commonly chosen for worship due to their perceived proximity to the divine realm. This widespread idolatry reflects the pervasive influence of surrounding pagan cultures and the failure of Israel's leaders to uphold the covenant. The repetition of this phrase in prophetic literature, such as <a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20</a> and <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Ezekiel 6:13</a>, underscores the persistent nature of this sin throughout Israel's history.and under every green tree The mention of "every green tree" highlights the use of natural settings for idolatrous worship. Green trees, often associated with fertility and life, were used as sites for pagan rituals and ceremonies. This practice is condemned in passages like <a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2</a> and <a href="/isaiah/57-5.htm">Isaiah 57:5</a>, where the Israelites are warned against adopting the customs of the nations they were to dispossess. The use of green trees for worship signifies a departure from the prescribed worship of Yahweh and a return to nature-based paganism.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/r/rehoboam.htm">Rehoboam</a> The son of Solomon and king of Judah during this period. His reign is marked by a departure from the worship of Yahweh, leading to idolatry. 2. <a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a> The southern kingdom of Israel, which Rehoboam ruled. This verse highlights the spiritual decline in Judah as they adopted pagan practices. 3. <a href="/topical/h/high_places.htm">High Places</a> Elevated sites where people worshiped deities other than Yahweh. These were often associated with Canaanite religious practices. 4. <a href="/topical/s/sacred_pillars.htm">Sacred Pillars</a> Stone monuments erected as part of idol worship, often dedicated to pagan gods. 5. <a href="/topical/a/asherah_poles.htm">Asherah Poles</a> Wooden symbols representing the goddess Asherah, a Canaanite deity, indicating the syncretism of Israelite and pagan worship.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_syncretism.htm">The Danger of Syncretism</a> Mixing true worship with pagan practices leads to spiritual decline. Believers must guard against incorporating secular or non-biblical elements into their faith. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> God’s commands regarding worship are clear and must be followed. Disobedience leads to consequences, as seen in the history of Israel and Judah. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership.htm">The Role of Leadership</a> Leaders have a significant influence on the spiritual direction of their people. Rehoboam’s failure to lead Judah in true worship had dire consequences. <a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_purity.htm">The Call to Purity</a> Believers are called to maintain purity in worship, avoiding any form of idolatry or compromise with worldly practices. <a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_repentance.htm">The Need for Repentance</a> When idolatry or sin is identified, immediate repentance and a return to God’s ways are necessary to restore fellowship with Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_kings_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 14</a> <a href="/q/what_are_high_places_in_the_bible.htm">What are high places in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_an_asherah_pole_represent.htm">What does an Asherah pole represent?</a> <a href="/q/who_are_baal_and_asherah_in_mythology.htm">Who are Baal and Asherah in mythology?</a> <a href="/q/why_do_high_places_remain_in_1_kings_15_14.htm">In 1 Kings 15:14, why are the high places said to remain, yet 2 Chronicles 14:3 claims Asa removed them?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) High places, and images, and groves.--On the "high places," see <a href="/1_kings/3-2.htm" title="Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built to the name of the LORD, until those days.">1Kings 3:2</a>, and Note there. The "images" of this passage seem undoubtedly to have been stone pillars, as the "groves" (i.e., the asherahs) were wooden stumps of trees (possibly in both cases surmounted by some rude representation of the deity worshipped). The first mention of such a pillar is in <a href="/genesis/28-18.htm" title="And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it.">Genesis 28:18</a>; <a href="/genesis/31-13.htm" title="I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow to me: now arise, get you out from this land, and return to the land of your kindred.">Genesis 31:13</a>; <a href="/genesis/35-14.htm" title="And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.">Genesis 35:14</a>, there applied to the stone which Jacob raises and anoints, in order to mark the scene of the vision at Bethel; next, we find repeated commands to destroy them (with the asherahs also) as erected by the Canaanites (<a href="/exodus/23-24.htm" title="You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but you shall utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.">Exodus 23:24</a>; <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm" title="But you shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:">Exodus 34:13</a>; <a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm" title="You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 26:1</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm" title="But thus shall you deal with them; you shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.">Deuteronomy 7:5</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm" title="And you shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and you shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.">Deuteronomy 12:3</a>), and to suffer neither near the altar of the Lord (<a href="/deuteronomy/16-21.htm" title="You shall not plant you a grove of any trees near to the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make you.">Deuteronomy 16:21</a>). Like the high places, it seems plain that both might be either unauthorised emblems of God's presence or images of false gods; and, indeed, the stone pillar appears in some cases to be associated with the worship of Baal, as the Asherah with that of Ashtoreth. In this passage, from the strength of the language used, and from the notice in <a href="/1_kings/14-24.htm" title="And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.">1Kings 14:24</a>, it seems that the grosser idolatry is referred to. It was practised "on every high hill, and every shady tree"--such trees as were notable for size and shade in the bareness of the hills of Palestine. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 23. - For they also [i.e., they as well as the ten tribes] built them high places [i.e., houses of high places. See on 1 Kings 3:2 and 1 Kings 13:32] and images [Heb. pillars or statues (מַצֵּבות; LXX., στήλας). These were, no doubt, originally memorial pillars or stones, erected to commemorate some Divine manifestation, and with no thought of idolatry (see <a href="/genesis/31-13.htm">Genesis 31:13</a>; <a href="/genesis/35-14.htm">Genesis 35:14, 20</a>; <a href="/genesis/28-18.htm">Genesis 28:18</a>). But the Canaanites erected pillars, which were also statues or images, to their god, Baal. Hence we read of the "image" (מַצֵּבָה) of Baal (<a href="/2_kings/3-2.htm">2 Kings 3:2</a>; <a href="/2_kings/10-26.htm">2 Kings 10:26, 27</a>; cf. 18:4; 23. 14); and hence also we find such images frequently mentioned side by side with the so-called "groves," i.e., the "Asherahs" (ver. 15; <a href="/exodus/34-13.htm">Exodus 34:13</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm">Deuteronomy 12:3</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/16-21.htm">Deuteronomy 16:21</a>, etc.) Both the Mazzebah and the Asherah, consequently, was an upright pillar or post, but the former was of stone, the latter of wood; the former dedicated to Baal, the god of nature, of generation; the latter to Ashtoreth, the goddess of nature and productive power. The gradual transition of the memorial pillar into the Baal statue is hinted at in <a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm">Leviticus 26:1</a>. It is observable that these idolatrous and immoral rites seem to have found a home in Judah before they were introduced into Israel] and groves [Asherahs, idols; see on ver. 15. This verse proves conclusively that the translation "grove" is a mistaken one] on every high hill, and under every green tree. [The phrase is from the Pentateuch, <a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Deuteronomy 12:2</a>; cf. <a href="/jeremiah/2-20.htm">Jeremiah 2:20</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Jeremiah 3:6</a>; <a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13</a>. "Probably the evil example of Maachah, his favourite wife (<a href="/2_chronicles/11-20.htm">2 Chronicles 11:20-22</a>), whose idolatrous tastes were displayed under Asa (<a href="/2_chronicles/15-16.htm">2 Chronicles 15:16</a>), was not without a pernicious effect on Rehoboam" (Wordsworth).] <a href="/commentaries/1_kings/14-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>They הֵ֧מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They also גַם־ (ḡam-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1571.htm">Strong's 1571: </a> Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and built וַיִּבְנ֨וּ (way·yiḇ·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> To build for themselves לָהֶ֛ם (lā·hem) Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> They high places, בָּמ֥וֹת (bā·mō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1116.htm">Strong's 1116: </a> An elevation sacred pillars, וּמַצֵּב֖וֹת (ū·maṣ·ṣê·ḇō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4676.htm">Strong's 4676: </a> Something stationed, a column, an idol and Asherah poles וַאֲשֵׁרִ֑ים (wa·’ă·šê·rîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_842.htm">Strong's 842: </a> A Phoenician goddess, also an image of the same on עַ֚ל (‘al) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against every כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every high גְבֹהָ֔ה (ḡə·ḇō·hāh) Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1364.htm">Strong's 1364: </a> Elevated, powerful, arrogant hill גִּבְעָ֣ה (giḇ·‘āh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1389.htm">Strong's 1389: </a> A hillock and under וְתַ֖חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> The bottom, below, in lieu of every כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every green רַעֲנָֽן׃ (ra·‘ă·nān) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7488.htm">Strong's 7488: </a> Verdant, new, prosperous tree. עֵ֥ץ (‘êṣ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> Tree, trees, wood <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_kings/14-23.htm">1 Kings 14:23 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-23.htm">OT History: 1 Kings 14:23 For they also built them high places (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_kings/14-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 14:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 14:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_kings/14-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 14:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 14:24" /></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>