The highplaceswhich[were] beforeJerusalem,which[were] on the rightof the mountof destructionwhichSolomonthe kingof Israelhad builtfor Ashtoreththe abominationof the Sidonians,and for Chemoshthe abominationof Moab,and for Milcomthe abominationof the sonsof Ammon,the kingdefiled.
becausethey have forsakenMe, and have worshipedAshtoreththe goddessof the Sidonians,Chemoshthe godof Moab,and Milcomthe godof the sonsof Ammon;and they have not walkedin My ways,doingwhatis rightin My sightand [observing] My statutesand My ordinances,as his fatherDavid[did].
For SolomonwentafterAshtoreththe goddessof the Sidoniansand afterMilcomthe detestableidolof the Ammonites.
ThenSolomonbuilta highplacefor Chemoshthe detestableidolof Moab,on the mountainwhichis eastof Jerusalem,and for Molechthe detestableidolof the sonsof Ammon.
"Did not Solomonkingof Israelsinregardingthesethings?Yet among the manynationsthere was nokinglikehim, and he was lovedby his God,and Godmadehim kingoverallIsrael;neverthelessthe foreignwomencaused evenhim to sin.
Noone recalls,noris there knowledgeor understandingto say,"I have burnedhalfof it in the fireand alsohave bakedbreadoverits coals.I roastmeatand eat[it]. Then I makethe restof it into an abomination,I falldownbefore a blockof wood!"
"For your godsare as manyas your cities,O Judah;and as manyas the streetsof Jerusalemare the altarsyou have setup to the shamefulthing,altarsto burnincenseto Baal.
"And Moabwill be ashamedof Chemosh,as the houseof Israelwas ashamedof Bethel,their confidence.
"The disasterof Moabwill sooncome,And his calamityhas swiftlyhastened.
"For becauseof your trustin your own achievementsand treasures,Evenyou yourselfwill be captured;And Chemoshwill gooffinto exileTogetherwith his priestsand his princes.
"And those who bowdownon the housetopsto the hostof heaven,And those who bowdown[and] swearto the LORDand [yet] swearby Milcom,
"Woeto you, O Moab!You are ruined,O peopleof Chemosh!He has givenhis sonsas fugitives,And his daughtersinto captivity,To an Amoriteking,Sihon.
Then the sonsof Israelagaindidevilin the sightof the LORD,servedthe Baalsand the Ashtaroth,the godsof Aram,the godsof Sidon,the godsof Moab,the godsof the sonsof Ammon,and the godsof the Philistines;thus they forsookthe LORDand did not serveHim.
Do you not possesswhatChemoshyour godgivesyou to possess?So whateverthe LORDour Godhas drivenout beforeus, we will possessit.
So they forsookthe LORDand servedBaaland the Ashtaroth.
"They criedout to the LORDand said,'We have sinnedbecausewe have forsakenthe LORDand have servedthe Baalsand the Ashtaroth;but nowdeliverus from the handsof our enemies,and we will serveYou.'
So the sonsof Israelremovedthe Baalsand the Ashtarothand servedthe LORDalone.
