The people built high places, stone memorials, and sacred poles. [177] They built them on every high hill and under every green tree.
2 Chronicles 33:3 - Easy To Read Version Manasseh built again the high places {\cf2\super [399]} that Hezekiah his father had broken down. Manasseh built altars for the Baal gods and made Asherah Poles. {\cf2\super [400]} He bowed down to the constellations {\cf2\super [401]} and worshiped those groups of stars. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition For he built again the [idolatrous] high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared altars for the Baals and made the Asherim and worshiped all the hosts of the heavens and served them. American Standard Version (1901) For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Common English Bible He rebuilt the shrines that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, set up altars for the Baals, and made sacred poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshipped them. Catholic Public Domain Version And turning away, he repaired the high places, which had been demolished by his father, Hezekiah. And he constructed altars to the Baals, and made sacred groves. And he adored the entire army of heaven, and he served them. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And he turned, and built again the high places which Ezechias his father had destroyed. And he built altars to Baalim, and made groves; and he adored all the host of heaven, and worshipped them. |
The people built high places, stone memorials, and sacred poles. [177] They built them on every high hill and under every green tree.
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}.
Manasseh built again the high places [251] that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. Manasseh also built altars [252] for Baal [253] and made an Asherah pole, [254] just like Ahab king of Israel. Manasseh worshiped and served the stars of heaven.
In the past, the kings of Judah had put some horses and a chariot [290] near the entrance to the Lord’s temple. This was near the room of an important official named Nathan Melech. The horses and chariot were to honor the sun god. [291] Josiah removed the horses and burned the chariot.
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.
Ahaz gathered the things from God’s temple {\cf2\super [328]} and broke them to pieces. Then he closed the doors of the Lord’s temple. He made altars {\cf2\super [329]} and put them on every street corner in Jerusalem.
Those people took away the altars in Jerusalem that were for false gods. They also took away all the incense altars that were for false gods. They threw those altars into the Kidron Valley.
The Passover {\cf2\super [377]} celebration was finished. The people of Israel that were in Jerusalem for Passover went out to the towns of Judah. Then they smashed the stone idols that were in those towns. Those stone idols were used to worship false gods. Those people also cut down the Asherah Poles. {\cf2\super [378]} And they destroyed the high places {\cf2\super [379]} and the altars {\cf2\super [380]} all through the areas of Judah and Benjamin. The people did the same things in the area of Ephraim and Manasseh. The people did these things until they destroyed all the things used for worshiping the false gods. Then all the Israelites went back home to their own towns.
Hezekiah himself took away the Lord’s high places {\cf2\super [391]} and altars. {\cf2\super [392]} He told you people of Judah and Jerusalem that you must worship and burn incense {\cf2\super [393]} on only one altar.
Manasseh took away the strange idol gods. He took the idol out from the Lord’s temple. He took away all the altars he had built on the temple hill, and in Jerusalem. Manasseh threw all those altars out of the city of Jerusalem.
Manasseh’s prayer and how God listened and felt sorry for him is written in The Book of the Seers. Also all of Manasseh’s sins and wrongs before he humbled himself, and the places where he built high places {\cf2\super [416]} and set up the Asherah Poles {\cf2\super [417]} are written in The Book of the Seers.
I will do this because the people left me and burned incense {\cf2\super [433]} to other gods. Those people made me angry because of all the bad things they have done. So I will pour out my anger on this place. Like a hot burning fire, my anger will not be put out!’
So destroy their altars. [342] Break the stones they worship. Cut down their idols. [343]
Some other person will control everything I worked and studied for. And I don’t know if that person will be wise or foolish. This is also senseless.
Wisdom is better than swords and spears\par in war.\par But one foolish person {\cf2\super [38]} can destroy\par much good.\par
Their children remember the altars\par that were dedicated to false gods.\par They remember the wooden poles\par that were dedicated to Asherah. {\cf2\super [136]} \par They remember those things\par under the green trees and on the hills.\par
‘The houses in Jerusalem will become as “dirty” as this place, Topheth. The kings’ palaces {\cf2\super [161]} will be ruined like this place, Topheth. Why? Because the people worshiped false gods on the roofs of those houses. {\cf2\super [162]} They worshiped the stars and burned sacrifices to honor them. They gave drink offerings to false gods.’”
Those men will spread those bones on the ground under the sun, the moon, and the stars. The people of Jerusalem love to worship the sun, the moon, and the stars. No person will gather those bones and bury them again. So, the bones of those people will be like dung thrown on the ground.
go on their roofs {\cf2\super [2]} to worship the stars. {\cf2\super [3]} People will forget about those false priests. Some people say they worship me. Those people promised to worship me, but now they worship the false god Milcom. {\cf2\super [4]} So I will remove those people from that place.
But God turned against them. God finished trying to stop them from worshiping the army \{of false gods\} in the sky. This is what is written in the book of the prophets {\cf2\super [142]} : God says,
“When you set up an altar [109] for the Lord your God, you must not place beside the altar any of the wooden poles that honor the goddess Asherah. [110]
that they have worshiped other gods. Or maybe that they have worshiped the sun, the moon or the stars. That is against the Lord’s command that I gave you.
And be careful when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon, and the stars—all the many things in the sky. Be careful that you are not tempted to worship and serve those things. The Lord your God lets the other people in the world do those things.