1 Kings 14:23

Translations

Modern

They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Traditional

For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

Literal

For they even built for themselves high places, and pillars, and Asherah poles, on every high hill and under every green tree.

Latin

Ædificaverunt enim et ipsi sibi aras, et statuas, et lucos super omnem collem excelsum, et subter omnem arborem frondosam:

Original

Hebrew

English

They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Notes

1 Kings 14:23–24

Solomon married foreign wives, which led his family into idol worship. Under Rehoboam's leadership, Judah continued the offensive practices of the pagan nations that lived in the land before the Israelites. When leaders are corrupt, a nation's spiritual decline often follows, leading to shame and ruin (Proverbs 14:34).
Shrine prostitutes were common in Canaan but were forbidden for Israel (see study notes on Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 23:17–18). They became part of Israelite society as the people adopted Canaanite culture.

1 Kings 14:21–31

Between the start and end details of Rehoboam’s rule (1 Kings 14:21, 29–31), the account highlights the declining spiritual state of God’s people in Judah (1 Kings 14:22–24) and an invasion by Egypt (1 Kings 14:25–28).

Theme notes and profiles

Rehoboam God’s Faithfulness to His People True Success

Related verses

Deuteronomy 12:2
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.
Isaiah 57:5
…who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
2 Kings 17:9–10
The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities.
Ezekiel 16:24–25
…you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square.
Jeremiah 17:2
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.
Jeremiah 2:20
“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
2 Kings 21:3–7
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.
1 Kings 3:2
The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built.
2 Chronicles 28:4
And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.
1 Kings 14:15
For the LORD will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave their fathers, and He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger.
Leviticus 26:1
“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.
Ezekiel 20:28–29
When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

Parallels

2 Chronicles 12:13–14

People

Asherah: Canaanite goddess; associated with wooden poles, idolatry

Glossary

Apostasy Green High Place Kings, Books of First and Second Naamah (Person) Oak Priests and Levites Rehoboam

Topics

Groves: Often on Tops of Hills Groves: Worshiped by Israelites High Places: Built By People of Judah High Places: Signify a Place of Idolatrous Worship High Places: Surrounded with Groves High Places: The Jews: Provoked God With Kings: Who Reigned Over Judah: Rehoboam (Latter Part of his Reign) Mountain used for Idolatrous Worship Prophecies Concerning Israel: Other Circumstances of his Reign

1 Kings 14:23

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