Bible Question:

I was wondering just what were the “high places” which caused so much distress among the writers of Deuteronomy History? How many were there and where were they located? Why were they characterized as being “ “high” ”? What went on there and who participated? How were these organized and why? Who organized them?

Bible Answer:

High Place In Dan

Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people. Numbers 22:41 (NASB)

 

When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every square, in disdaining money, you were not like a harlot. Ezekiel 16:31 (NASB)

High places were places where false gods were worshipped. The Old Testament refers to them 233 times.  A partial list of gods and goddess for which high places were built, according to the Old Testament, were the Asherah (2 Kings 21:3), Asherim (2 Chronicles 17:6), Ashtoreth (1 Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23;13), Aven (Hosea 10:8), Baal (Numbers 22:41, plus 128 other ref.), Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:13),  Milcom (1 Kings 11:5; 2 Kings 23:13), and the Moloch (1 Kings 11:7; Acts 7:43), Topheth (Jeremiah 7:31), and the gods of the sun, the moon, the constellations, and all the host of heaven (2 Kings 23:5, 2 Chronicles 33:3). Other gods and goddess for which high places may have been built are Dagon (Judges 16:23; 1 Samuel 5:2-7; 1 Chronicles 10:10), Marduk (Jeremiah 50:2), Moses’ bronze serpent or the Nehushtan (2 Kings 18:4), Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17, 25), and Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14).

Some of the best-known high places that are visible today are those at Dan, Gezer, and Petra. It was there that gods who are “no gods” were worshipped – the gods of stone, trees and metal (Numbers 33:52). We do not know how many high places existed in Canaan, but it is safe to assume there was at least one for each nation that occupied ancient Palestine. Joshua 12:7-24 lists thirty-one nations that Israel defeated when they entered the land. Joshua 13:2-6 says that Israel had left five nations in the land (Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, Gebalites and all Lebanon). That makes a total of thirty-six nations in the land of Canaan. We do not know for sure how many high places existed or where they were all located.

The gods and goddesses on the “high places” were depicted as carved and molten images (2 Chronicles 34:3). The high places had priests (1 Kings 12:31; 13:33). The high places and shrines existed on mountains and at the ends of streets (Ezekiel 16:25, 31). High places were built on mountains and under trees (Ezekiel 6:13). They were built “in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city” (2 Kings 17:9).

The high places were places of religious worship. Five religious activities occurred as part of their worship. They made animal sacrifices (1 Kings 3:2), engaged in sacred sexual activity (1 Kings 15:12; Jeremiah 3:2; Ezekiel 16:25), incense (1 Kings 3:3; 2 Kings 12:3: 14:4; 15:4), made their sons and daughters walk through fire (Jeremiah 19:5; 32:35), and offered human sacrifices (2 Kings 23:20, Jeremiah 7:31). There were sacred pillars or sacred stones at the high places (2 Kings 17:8-12; 2 Kings 18:4). These appear to be carved pillars of the female goddess of fertility and male deities (Leviticus 26:1; Numbers 33:52). Ezekiel 16:17 appears to refer idols of male genitalia.

Conclusion:

Why did they use high places for worship? Were they attempting to get closer to their false god? Was there a psychological appeal to being up high? Was there a spiritual experience? Sexual experiences were part of their worship. Today people seek spiritual highs. It is interesting that God’s tabernacle in the wilderness was in the plain and not on a high place. God’s concept of worship is not “sexual experiences,” burning our children or making our children walk through fire. God calls us to love Him, seek Him and to know Him.

It is interesting how often Christians go to a seminar or to camp and then come home with a religious high, but two weeks later it is gone. We wonder why. The answer is that back at home we are spending less time focused on God. True fulfillment is an emotional love for God that captures our whole person (Matthew 22:36-39) and results in “I love you, God” and obedience (Romans 12:1-2).

Suggested Links:

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Then You Will Know I Am the LORD
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What is the meaning of Jeremiah 7:31?