Elijah came to all the people. He said, “When will you people decide who to follow? If the Lord is the true God, then you should follow him. But if Baal [200] is the true God, then you should follow him!”
2 Kings 21:3 - Easy To Read Version 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. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshiped all the [starry] hosts of the heavens and served them! American Standard Version (1901) For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, 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 Baal, and made a sacred pole, just as Israel’s King Ahab had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshipped them. Catholic Public Domain Version And he turned away. And he built up the high places that his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. And he erected altars to Baal, and he made sacred groves, just as Ahab, the king of Israel, had done. 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 up the high places which Ezechias his father had destroyed. And he set up altars to Baal, and made groves, as Achab the king of Israel had done. And he adored all the host of heaven, and served them. |
Elijah came to all the people. He said, “When will you people decide who to follow? If the Lord is the true God, then you should follow him. But if Baal [200] is the true God, then you should follow him!”
So the prophets took the bull that was given to them. They prepared it. They prayed to Baal [203] until noon. They prayed, “Baal, please answer us!” But there was no sound. No one answered. The prophets danced around the altar that they had built. {But the fire never started.}
But the Israelites still did not stop doing the sins of the family of Jeroboam that caused Israel to sin. The Israelites continued doing the sins of Jeroboam. They also kept the Asherah poles [149] in Samaria.
The people stopped following the commands of the Lord their God. They made two gold statues of calves. They made Asherah poles. [209] They worshiped all the stars of heaven and served Baal. [210]
Maybe you will say, “We trust the Lord our God.” But I know that Hezekiah took away the high places [227] and altars [228] where people worshiped the Lord. And Hezekiah told the people of Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship only in front of the altar here in Jerusalem.”
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}.
But Jehoram lived like the kings of Israel and did the things that the Lord said were wrong. Jehoram lived like the people from Ahab’s family. Jehoram lived like this because his wife was Ahab’s daughter.
Ahaziah did the things the Lord said were wrong. Ahaziah did many bad things like the people from Ahab’s family. Ahaziah lived like this because his wife was from Ahab’s family.
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.
When Josiah was in his eighth year as king, he began to follow the God that David his ancestor followed. Josiah was still young when he began to obey God. When Josiah was in his twelfth year as king he began to destroy the high places {\cf2\super [421]} , the Asherah Poles, {\cf2\super [422]} and idols that were carved and idols that were made from molds from Judah and Jerusalem.
I have never worshiped the bright sun,\par or the beautiful moon.\par
“But you people left the Lord, so you will be punished. You people forgot about my holy mountain. {\cf2\super [472]} You began to worship Luck. You depend on the false god Fate. {\cf2\super [473]}
Why? Because you obey the laws of Omri. {\cf2\super [78]} \par You do all the \{bad\} things\par that Ahab’s family does.\par You follow their teachings.\par So I will let you be destroyed.\par People will whistle in amazement\par when they see your destroyed city.\par Then you will bear the shame\par that the other nations bring to you. {\cf2\super [79]} \par
“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]
“You might hear about an evil thing that happens in one of the cities that the Lord your God is giving you. You might hear that a man or woman in your group has sinned against the Lord. You might hear that they have broken the Agreement of the Lord—
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.
Why? Because then they won’t be able teach you to sin against the Lord your God. They will not be able to teach you to do any of the terrible things they do when they worship their gods.
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.