1 Kings 14:23
For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to skim over this, but notice they built these pagan altars under every green tree. This wasn't just about convenience; it was about deliberately mimicking and corrupting God's creation to honor false gods, a direct affront to the beauty and goodness God had already established. This detail highlights how idolatry actively seeks to twist and defile what God made good.
This verse is part of the narrative of Rehoboam's reign, the first king of Judah after the kingdom split. Instead of following God, Rehoboam and his people embrace the idolatrous practices of their Canaanite neighbors, building pagan shrines and worshiping false gods. This direct defiance of God's commands sets the stage for the subsequent judgment and exile that will plague the kingdom of Judah.
Why did the Israelites keep returning to these forbidden worship sites? These 'high places' weren't just scenic overlooks; they were centers of rebellion.
The Temptation of Convenience
The 'high places' (Hebrew: bamah) were elevated spots, often natural or easily modified, used for worship. While some might have existed in early Israelite history, they became deeply associated with Canaanite pagan practices. These sites offered a seemingly accessible way to connect with deities, often tied to fertility and prosperity, which was incredibly tempting.
A Direct Defiance of God's Command
God explicitly commanded Israel to worship Him only at the place He would choose (later established as Jerusalem). Building these unauthorized shrines, especially those dedicated to foreign gods like Asherah (the fertility goddess), was a direct act of disobedience. It showed a willingness to compromise their covenant with God for perceived benefits or simply because it was the popular, established way of worship in the surrounding culture.
What exactly were these 'pillars' and 'Asherim,' and why are they mentioned alongside the high places?
Pillars: Monuments to Falsehood
The 'pillars' (Hebrew: massebah) often referred to sacred stone pillars. In pagan worship, these could represent male deities or serve as focal points for ritual. They were a tangible symbol of devotion, but in Israel's case, they pointed away from the one true God, becoming monuments to their straying faith.
Asherim: The Goddess of Fertility
'Asherim' refers to symbols or even actual trees dedicated to Asherah, a prominent Canaanite goddess associated with fertility, love, and war. These sacred groves or carved images were central to pagan rituals aimed at ensuring prosperity and offspring. Their presence signifies the deep infiltration of foreign religious practices into Israel, a stark betrayal of their exclusive covenant with Yahweh.
Understand the original words
bamah · Hebrew Noun
Local sites of worship, often located on elevations, which were originally intended for Yahweh but became centers for syncretism and idolatry.
matstsebah · Hebrew Noun
Upright stones or pillars used in Canaanite worship, often associated with the presence of pagan deities.
asherah · Hebrew Noun
Sacred wooden poles or images representing the Canaanite goddess Asherah, often erected near altars to signify fertility cult worship.
This verse highlights how, even after the kingdom divided and prophets warned against it, the Israelites readily adopted foreign religious practices, building altars and sacred sites that blended their worship of God with Canaanite fertility cults.
~1000 BC
United Monarchy at its Peak
Under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, Israel experienced a period of relative peace and prosperity, solidifying their national identity and religious center in Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
After Solomon's death, the unified kingdom split into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes, including Jerusalem). This division led to political instability and religious compromise.
c. 930-910 BC
Jeroboam Establishes Alternative Worship
King Jeroboam of the Northern Kingdom set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel, creating rival worship centers to deter his people from traveling to Jerusalem for religious festivals, thereby encouraging idolatry.
c. 930-870 BC— this verse
Widespread Canaanite Religious Practices
Throughout the divided kingdoms, but especially in the North, many Israelites adopted or syncretized Canaanite fertility worship. This included building high places and erecting pillars and sacred trees associated with deities like Baal and Asherah.
This passage lays out God's direct command *against* building high places and Asherim, showing how Israel's actions in 1 Kings 14 directly defied His law from the beginning.
Deuteronomy 12:2-4Here, Moses instructs the Israelites to tear down the altars and break the pillars of the nations they are displacing, highlighting the pagan nature of the high places Israel adopted.
Jeremiah 2:20The prophet Jeremiah rebukes Israel for breaking their covenant and running after other gods, explicitly mentioning breaking their yoke and going wherever they pleased, mirroring the spiritual rebellion seen in 1 Kings 14.
Micah 5:14Micah prophesies a future judgment where God will root out the Asherim and high places, directly referencing the very objects of idolatry mentioned in 1 Kings 14 as symbols of Israel's sin.
It's easy to skim over this, but notice they built these pagan altars under every green tree. This wasn't just about convenience; it was about deliberately mimicking and corrupting God's creation to honor false gods, a direct affront to the beauty and goodness God had already established. This detail highlights how idolatry actively seeks to twist and defile what God made good.
This verse is part of the narrative of Rehoboam's reign, the first king of Judah after the kingdom split. Instead of following God, Rehoboam and his people embrace the idolatrous practices of their Canaanite neighbors, building pagan shrines and worshiping false gods. This direct defiance of God's commands sets the stage for the subsequent judgment and exile that will plague the kingdom of Judah.
This verse is part of the narrative of Rehoboam's reign, the first king of Judah after the kingdom split. Instead of following God, Rehoboam and his people embrace the idolatrous practices of their Canaanite neighbors, building pagan shrines and worshiping false gods. This direct defiance of God's commands sets the stage for the subsequent judgment and exile that will plague the kingdom of Judah.
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c. 870 BC
Reign of Omri and Ahab
These kings of Israel further promoted Baal worship, deepening the religious apostasy of the Northern Kingdom and drawing strong rebukes from prophets like Elijah.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This event served as a divine judgment for their persistent idolatry and disobedience.
"For they also built for themselves high places and pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree," — It's easy to skim over this, but notice they built these pagan altars under every green tree. This wasn't just about convenience; it was about deliberately mimicking and corrupting God's creation t…
