The God of Israel is said
to "tread the high places of the earth,"
(Amos
4:13; Micah 1:3)
and he was worshiped
on high elevations (1 Sameul 9:14, etc.). When
it comes to Jerusalem, we see that he will enter into battle specifically
for mount Zion, and for the hill
(OT:1389) thereof - presumably the
Temple Mount). It shows the importance of the control of mountains
and hills. But references to "high places" more often relate to Israel sinning by worshiping and sacrificing to foreign gods on high places (Ps. 78:58, etc.) The characteristic of "good" kings of Israel was that they destroyed high places and objects of worship of foreign gods, viz. Hezekiah & Josiah. "Bad" kings like Manasseh built them. Erecting objects of worship of pagan gods beside Jehovah's altar was strictly forbidden. Of more importance to the God of Israel was that he could not be worshiped "just anywhere" - because special Preparations had to be made, like in the Temple or at Gibeon (Samuel's Mountain) before the Temple was built -- that was why animal sacrifice had to be stopped after the Temple had been destroyed - and the Rabbis ruled that it was sufficient "just to pray" -- in spite of BLOOD being the only means of redemption. (From Objects in Scripture)
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| - Jehovah treads the high places of the earth Amos 4:13 He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth- the LORD God Almighty is his name. NIV Micah 1:3 Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads the high places of the earth. 4 The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. NIV God of Israel was worshiped on high elevations 1 Samuel 9:14 They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place. NIV 2 Sam 15:32 As they reached the spot at the top of the Mount of Olives where people worshiped God, David found Hushai the Archite waiting for him with torn clothing and earth upon his head. TLB 1 Kings 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. NIV
"Good" kings of
Israel |
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| "Bad" kings of Israel |
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| 2 Chronicles
33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he
became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did evil
in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations
the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places
his father HEzekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and
made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them.
4 He built altars in the temple of the LORD, of which the LORD had said,
"My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever." NIV 1 Kings 11:7-8 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. NIV
Israel
sinning by worshiping and sacrificing to foreign gods
on
high places
Sacrifices
not just
anywhere |
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| choose. 27 Present your burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD your God, both the meat and the blood. NIV |
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| Josh 22:10
When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites,
the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there
by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar
on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the JorDan on the Israelite side,
12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
15 When they went to Gilead-to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh-they
said to them: 16 "The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break
faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the
LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17 Was not
the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves
from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the LORD! 18
And are you now turning away from the LORD? "'If you rebel against the LORD
today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19 If
the land you possess is defiled, come over to the LORD's land, where the
LORD's tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against
the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the
altar of the LORD our God.....24 "No! We did it for fear that some day your
descendants might say to ours, 'What do you have to do with the LORD, the
God of Israel? ...."That is why we said, 'Let us get ready and build an altar-but
not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.' 27 On the contrary, it is
to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that
we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices
and fellowship offerings. NIV [This ruling about "not sacrificing just anywhere," had to do with the presence of demons (other nation's gods) if special "preparations" were not made, (as below) - 1 Chronicles 13:26 For all the gods of the nations are idols (demons - LB), but the LORD made the heavens.] |
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| Of more importance, is the Preparation of the Altar by: |
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Remission
of sin only by Blood For this reason, the RAM that was substituted for Isaac is probably the most important symbol in Judaism, since it represents the |
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| Messiah's sacrifice for man's sins. |
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| Genesis
22:12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him.
Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your
son, your only son." 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a
ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it
as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The
LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD
it will be provided." NIV. Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, NIV Sanctioned High Places for Israel to worship
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