High Place: An eminence, natural or artificial, where worship by sacrifice or
offerings was made
(1 Kings 13:32; 2 Kings 17:29) The first altar after the
Flood was built on a mountain
(Genesis 8:20) Abraham also built an altar
on a mountain
(Genesis 12:7,8) It was on a mountain in Gilead that Laban
and Jacob offered sacrifices
(Genesis 31:54) After the Israelites
entered the Promised Land they were strictly enjoined to overthrow the
high places of the Canaanites
(Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:2,3) and they
were forbidden to worship the Lord on high places
(Deuteronomy 12:11-14) and
were enjoined to use but one altar for sacrifices
(Leviticus 17:3,4; Deuteronomy 12:1)
(Deuteronomy 16:21) The injunction against high places was, however, very
imperfectly obeyed, and we find again and again mention made of them
(2 Kings 14:4; 15:4,35; 2 Chronicles 15:17) etc.
