1 Kings 15:13Easy To Read VersionAsa also removed his grandmother, Maacah, from being queen. Maacah had made one of those terrible images of the goddess Asherah. Asa cut down this terrible image. He burned it in Kidron Valley. See the chapter |
Hezekiah destroyed the high places. [217] He broke the memorial stones [218] and cut down the Asherah poles. [219] At that time, the people of Israel burned incense [220] to the bronze snake made by Moses. This bronze snake was called “Nehushtan.” [221] Hezekiah broke this bronze snake into pieces {because the people were worshiping that snake}.
Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the other priests, and the gatekeepers, to bring out of the Lord’s temple [277] all the dishes and things that were made to honor Baal, [278] Asherah, [279] and the stars of heaven. Then Josiah burned those things outside Jerusalem in the fields in Kidron Valley. Then they carried the ashes to Bethel.
The people broke down the altars for the Baal gods. They did this in front of Josiah. Then Josiah cut down the incense {\cf2\super [423]} altars that stood high above the people. He broke the idols that were carved and the idols that were made from molds. He beat those idols into powder. Then Josiah sprinkled the powder on the graves of the people that had offered sacrifices {\cf2\super [424]} to the Baal gods.
I saw what these Jews did. They were not following the truth of the Good News. {\cf2\super [17]} So I spoke to Peter in a way that all the other Jews could hear what I said. This is what I said: “Peter, you are a Jew. But you don’t live like a Jew. You live like a non-Jew. So why do you now force the non-Jewish people to live like Jews?”