Topical Bible: High Places
Topical Encyclopedia
High places, known in Hebrew as "bamot," are elevated sites often associated with worship and religious rituals in the ancient Near East, including Israel. These sites are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament and hold significant theological and historical importance.
Biblical References and Description
High places were typically located on hills or elevated ground and were used for various religious practices. They often included altars, sacred stones, or wooden poles known as Asherah poles. The Bible first mentions high places in the context of Canaanite worship, where they were used to honor deities such as Baal and Asherah.
In the Book of Numbers, Balaam is brought to a high place to curse Israel: "So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar" (Numbers 23:14). This illustrates the use of high places for sacrificial offerings.
Israelite Use and Reforms
Initially, high places were not exclusively condemned in Israelite worship. Before the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, high places were used for worshiping Yahweh. For instance, Samuel offered sacrifices at high places (1 Samuel 9:12-14), and Solomon initially worshiped at the high place in Gibeon, where the tabernacle was located (1 Kings 3:4).
However, as the centralization of worship in Jerusalem became a theological priority, high places became associated with idolatry and syncretism. The Deuteronomic reform, emphasized in Deuteronomy 12:2-5, called for the destruction of high places: "Tear down completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree."
Several kings of Judah undertook reforms to eliminate high places. King Hezekiah is noted for his efforts: "He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles" (2 Kings 18:4). Similarly, King Josiah's reforms included the desecration of high places: "He also tore down the altars at the high places that the kings of Judah had built" (2 Kings 23:12).
Theological Significance
The high places represent a recurring theme of Israel's struggle with idolatry and the temptation to adopt pagan practices. They symbolize the tension between the worship of Yahweh and the allure of surrounding cultures. The biblical narrative often uses high places to illustrate the consequences of disobedience and the need for covenant faithfulness.
Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel condemned the high places for leading Israel astray. Jeremiah 7:31 states, "They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter My mind."
Archaeological and Cultural Context
Archaeological findings have uncovered numerous high places throughout Israel and the surrounding regions, providing insight into their construction and use. These sites often included altars, standing stones, and sometimes small temples. The presence of high places in various cultures highlights their widespread role in ancient religious practices.
In summary, high places in the Bible serve as a powerful symbol of Israel's religious history, reflecting both the legitimate worship of Yahweh in earlier times and the subsequent idolatrous practices that led to divine judgment. The biblical call to destroy high places underscores the importance of exclusive devotion to God and the rejection of idolatry.
ATS Bible Dictionary
High Places
The ancient Canaanites, and other nations, worshipped the heavenly bodies and their idols upon hills, mountains, and artificial elevations. The Israelites were commanded to destroy these places of idol worship, De 12:2, but instead of this, they imitated the heathen, and at first worshipped Jehovah in high places, 1 Samuel 9:12 1 Kings 3:4, and afterwards idols, 1 Kings 11:7 2 Kings 17:10,11. Here also they built chapels or temples, "houses of the high places," 1 Kings 13:32 2 Kings 17:29, and had regular priests, 1 Kings 12:32 2 Kings 17:32. Different groves were sacred to different gods; and the high places were inseparably linked to idolatry. Hence one reason why Jehovah required the festivals and sacrifices of the Jews to be centered at his temple in Jerusalem; that the people of the living and only true God might be delivered from the temptations of the groves, and witness as one man against idolatry. The prophets reproach the Israelites for worshipping on the high places; the destroying of which was a duty, but the honor of performing it is given to few princes in Scripture, though several of them were zealous for the law. Before the temple was built, the high places were not absolutely contrary to the law, provided God only was adored there. Under the judges, they seem to have been tolerated in some exceptional cases; and Samuel offered sacrifice in several places where the ark was not present. Even in David's time, the people sacrificed to the Lord at Shiloh, Jerusalem, and Gibeon. The high places were much frequented in the kingdom of Israel; and on these hills they often adored idols, and committed a thousand abominations. See BAMOTH and GROVES.
Strong's Hebrew
1181. baale bamoth -- lords of (the) high places
... lords of (the) high places. Transliteration: baale bamoth Phonetic Spelling:
(bah-al-ay' baw-moth') Short Definition: heights. ... lords of the high places. ...
/hebrew/1181.htm - 6k
1116. bamah -- a high place
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a high place NASB Word Usage heights
(3), high place (19), high places (76), places (1), waves (1). ...
/hebrew/1116.htm - 6k
7413. ramah -- height, high place
... place. Word Origin from rum Definition height, high place NASB Word Usage
height (1), high place (3), high places (1). high place. ...
/hebrew/7413.htm - 6k
4791. marom -- height
... Word Usage above* (1), exalted (1), exalted places (1), haughtily (2), heaven (1),
heavens (1), height (4), heights (9), high (28), high places (2), loftiness ...
/hebrew/4791.htm - 6k
1921. hadar -- to honor, adorn, perhaps to swell
... 1), defer* (1), honor (1), majestic (1), partial (1), respected (1), rough places
(1). ... active or passive); by implication, to favor or honour, be high or proud ...
/hebrew/1921.htm - 6k
Library
Spiritual Religion in High Places --Rous, Vane, and Sterry
... CHAPTER XIV SPIRITUAL RELIGION IN HIGH PLACES"ROUS, VANE, AND STERRY. The
spiritual struggles which culminated in the great upheaval ...
/.../chapter xiv spiritual religion in.htm
Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory
... the Lord his God; 3. For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high
places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: 4. And commanded ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture g/asas reformation and consequent peace.htm
Prayer and Humility
... gaze. It does not seek publicity nor hunt for high places, neither does
it care for prominence. Humility is retiring in its nature. ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/ii prayer and humility.htm
The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... "Samuel," says Professor Robertson Smith, "sacrifices on many high places, Saul
builds altars, David and his son Solomon permit the worship at the high places ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm
Feeding in the Ways
... FEEDING IN THE WAYS. 'They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in
all high places.' Isaiah 49:9. ... 'Their pasture shall be in all high places.'. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/feeding in the ways.htm
Jehoshaphat's Reform
... riches and honour in abundance.6. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the
Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.7. Also in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/jehoshaphats reform.htm
Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity. Be Strong in the Lord
... flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/twenty-first sunday after trinity be.htm
Political Religion
... 31. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest
of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.32. And ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/political religion.htm
A Soul's Tragedy
... borne. There are few men, holding high places in any walk of life, who could
have stood such a comparison without wincing. Suppose ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a souls tragedy.htm
A Kingdom's Epitaph
... they had made.9. 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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a kingdoms epitaph.htm
Resources
What does it mean that Jesus is our High Priest? | GotQuestions.org
What is meant by High Church and Low Church? | GotQuestions.org
What is Jesus' High Priestly Prayer? | GotQuestions.org
High: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com
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