high places places on which the Israelites anciently practised their worship, and often carried on idolatrous rites in connexion with it. They at first used hills or mountains, and afterwards mounds or platforms. Such idolatrous high places were destroyed by Josiah (2 Kings 23:5-20), but the worship of Jehovah on them (1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 15:35) continued till the Exile.

sun-images rather, sun-pillars, probably emblems of a Phoenician deity, Baal-Ḥammân, -Lord of the sun's heat." See Skinner (C.B.) on Isaiah 17:8.

idols The Heb. word is a favourite one with Ezekiel (Ezekiel 6:5, etc.). It is a term of contempt, probably meaning blocks, shapeless things.

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