He broughtout the Asherahfrom the houseof the LORDoutsideJerusalemto the brookKidron,and burnedit at the brookKidron,and ground[it] to dust,and threwits duston the gravesof the commonpeople.
For they alsobuiltfor themselves highplacesand [sacred] pillarsand Asherimon everyhighhilland beneatheveryluxurianttree.
He alsoremovedMaacahhis motherfrom [being] queenmother,becauseshe had madea horridimageas an Asherah;and Asacutdownher horridimageand burned[it] at the brookKidron.
Ahabalso madethe Asherah.Thus Ahabdidmoreto provokethe LORDGodof Israelthanallthe kingsof Israelwhowere beforehim.
"For on the dayyou goout and crossoverthe brookKidron,you will knowfor certainthat you shall surelydie;your bloodshall be on your own head."
They broughtout the [sacred] pillarsof the houseof Baaland burnedthem.
They also brokedownthe [sacred] pillarof Baaland brokedownthe houseof Baal,and madeit a latrineto this day.
Then he setthe carvedimageof Asherahthat he had made,in the houseof whichthe LORDsaidto Davidand to his sonSolomon,"In thishouseand in Jerusalem,whichI have chosenfrom allthe tribesof Israel,I will putMy nameforever.
The altarswhich[were] on the roof,the upperchamberof Ahaz,whichthe kingsof Judahhad made,and the altarswhichManassehhad madein the twocourtsof the houseof the LORD,the kingbrokedown;and he smashedthem thereand threwtheir dustinto the brookKidron.
Furthermore,the altarthat [was] at Bethel[and] the highplacewhichJeroboamthe sonof Nebat,whomade Israelsin,had made,eventhat altarand the highplacehe brokedown.Then he demolishedits stones, groundthem to dust,and burnedthe Asherah.
He alsoremovedMaacah,the motherof KingAsa,from the [position of] queenmother,becauseshe had madea horridimageas an Asherah,and Asacutdownher horridimage,crushed[it] and burned[it] at the brookKidron.
For he rebuiltthe highplaceswhichHezekiahhis fatherhad brokendown;he also erectedaltarsfor the Baalsand madeAsherim,and worshipedallthe hostof heavenand servedthem.
They toredownthe altarsof the Baalsin his presence,and the incensealtarsthat were highabovethem he choppeddown;also the Asherim,the carvedimagesand the moltenimageshe brokein piecesand groundto powderand scattered[it] on the gravesof those who had sacrificedto them.
He tookthe calfwhichthey had madeand burned[it] with fire,and groundit to powder,and scatteredit overthe surfaceof the waterand made the sonsof Israeldrink[it].
As they remembertheir children,So they [remember] their altarsand their AsherimBy greentreeson the highhills.
Thereforethussaysthe LORDin regardto Jehoiakimthe sonof Josiah,kingof Judah,"They will not lamentfor him: 'Alas,my brother!'or, 'Alas,sister!'They will not lamentfor him: 'Alasfor the master!'or, 'Alasfor his splendor!'
"And the wholevalleyof the deadbodiesand of the ashes,and allthe fieldsas faras the brookKidron,to the cornerof the HorseGatetoward the east,shall be holyto the LORD;it will not be pluckedup or overthrownanymoreforever."
When Jesushad spokenthesewords, He went forthwith His disciplesoverthe ravineof the Kidron,wherethere was a garden,in whichHe enteredwith His disciples.
"The gravenimagesof their godsyou are to burnwith fire;you shall not covetthe silveror the goldthat is on them, nortakeit for yourselves, oryou will be snaredby it, for it is an abominationto the LORDyour God.
"I tookyour sinful[thing], the calfwhichyou had made,and burnedit with fireand crushedit, grindingit verysmalluntilit was as fineas dust;and I threwits dustinto the brookthat camedownfrom the mountain.
The sonsof Israeldidwhatwas evilin the sightof the LORD,and forgotthe LORDtheir Godand servedthe Baalsand the Asheroth.
