2 Kings 23:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the high-ranking priests, and the guards to bring out of the LORD’s temple all the items that were used in the worship of Baal, Asherah, and all the stars of the sky. The king burned them outside of Jerusalem in the terraces of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.

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Referenced Verses

  • 2 Kgs 21:3 : 3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them.
  • 2 Kgs 21:7 : 7 He put an idol of Asherah he had made in the temple, about which the LORD had said to David and to his son Solomon,“This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home.
  • 2 Kgs 25:18 : 18 The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah, the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.
  • 2 Chr 33:3 : 3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them.
  • 2 Chr 33:7 : 7 He put an idolatrous image he had made in God’s temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon,“This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home.
  • 2 Chr 34:3-4 : 3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year he began ridding Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images. 4 He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols and images, crushed them up and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.
  • Isa 27:9 : 9 So in this way Jacob’s sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.
  • Jer 7:9 : 9 You steal. You murder. You commit adultery. You lie when you swear on oath. You sacrifice to the god Baal. You pay allegiance to other gods whom you have not previously known.
  • Jer 52:24 : 24 The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.
  • Hos 4:15 : 15 Warning to Judah: Do Not Join in Israel’s Apostasy! Although you, O Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty! Do not journey to Gilgal! Do not go up to Beth Aven! Do not swear,“As surely as the LORD lives!”
  • Amos 4:4 : 4 Israel has an Appointment with God“Go to Bethel and rebel! At Gilgal rebel some more! Bring your sacrifices in the morning, your tithes on the third day!
  • Matt 26:3 : 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.
  • Matt 27:1 : 1 Jesus Brought Before Pilate When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.
  • John 18:1 : 1 Betrayal and Arrest When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it.
  • Judg 2:13 : 13 They abandoned the LORD and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.
  • 2 Sam 15:23 : 23 All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving. As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert.
  • 1 Kgs 12:29 : 29 He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan.
  • 1 Kgs 16:31 : 31 As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal.
  • 1 Kgs 18:19 : 19 Now send out messengers and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports.”
  • 1 Kgs 18:26 : 26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying,“Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.
  • 1 Kgs 18:40 : 40 Elijah told them,“Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed them there.
  • 1 Kgs 19:18 : 18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”
  • 2 Kgs 17:16 : 16 They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal.
  • 1 Chr 24:4-9 : 4 The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight. 5 They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the holy place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 6 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar. 7 The first lot went to Jehoiarib,the second to Jedaiah, 8 the third to Harim,the fourth to Seorim, 9 the fifth to Malkijah,the sixth to Mijamin, 10 the seventh to Hakkoz,the eighth to Abijah, 11 the ninth to Jeshua,the tenth to Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh to Eliashib,the twelfth to Jakim, 13 the thirteenth to Huppah,the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,the sixteenth to Immer, 15 the seventeenth to Hezir,the eighteenth to Happizzez, 16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,the twentieth to Jehezkel, 17 the twenty-first to Jakin,the twenty-second to Gamul, 18 the twenty-third to Delaiah,the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. 19 This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the LORD’s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the LORD God of Israel had instructed him.
  • 1 Chr 26:1-9 : 1 Divisions of Gatekeepers The divisions of the gatekeepers:From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. 2 Meshelemiah’s sons:The firstborn Zechariah, the second Jediael, the third Zebadiah, the fourth Jathniel, 3 the fifth Elam, the sixth Jehohanan, and the seventh Elihoenai. 4 Obed-Edom’s sons:The firstborn Shemaiah, the second Jehozabad, the third Joah, the fourth Sakar, the fifth Nethanel, 5 the sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai.(Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.) 6 His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected. 7 The sons of Shemaiah:Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also respected. 8 All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom. 9 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected– eighteen in all. 10 Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons:The firstborn Shimri(he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status), 11 the second Hilkiah, the third Tebaliah, and the fourth Zechariah. All of Hosah’s sons and relatives numbered thirteen. 12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had assigned responsibilities, like their relatives, as they served in the LORD’s temple. 13 They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for. 14 The lot for the east gate went to Shelemiah. They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser, and the lot for the north gate went to him. 15 Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. 16 Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate, along with the Shalleketh gate on the upper road. One guard was adjacent to another. 17 Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs. 18 At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.
  • 2 Kgs 22:4 : 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the LORD’s temple and has been collected by the guards at the door.
  • 2 Kgs 23:15 : 15 He also tore down the altar in Bethel at the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin. He burned all the combustible items at that high place and crushed them to dust; including the Asherah pole.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Kgs 23:5-6
    2 verses
    84%

    5He eliminated the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to offer sacrifices on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the area right around Jerusalem.(They offered sacrifices to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations, and all the stars in the sky.)

    6He removed the Asherah pole from the LORD’s temple and took it outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley, where he burned it. He smashed it to dust and then threw the dust in the public graveyard.

  • 2 Kgs 10:26
    78%

    26They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.

  • 2 Chr 34:3-5
    3 verses
    78%

    3In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year he began ridding Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images.

    4He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols and images, crushed them up and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.

    5He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their altars; he purified Judah and Jerusalem.

  • 2 Kgs 23:8
    78%

    8He brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and ruined the high places where the priests had offered sacrifices, from Geba to Beer Sheba. He tore down the high place of the goat idols situated at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the city official, on the left side of the city gate.

  • 2 Kgs 23:10-16
    7 verses
    78%

    10The king ruined Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that no one could pass his son or his daughter through the fire to Molech.

    11He removed from the entrance to the LORD’s temple the statues of horses that the kings of Judah had placed there in honor of the sun god.(They were kept near the room of Nathan Melech the eunuch, which was situated among the courtyards.) He burned up the chariots devoted to the sun god.

    12The king tore down the altars the kings of Judah had set up on the roof of Ahaz’s upper room, as well as the altars Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple. He crushed them up and threw the dust in the Kidron Valley.

    13The king ruined the high places east of Jerusalem, south of the Mount of Destruction, that King Solomon of Israel had built for the detestable Sidonian goddess Astarte, the detestable Moabite god Chemosh, and the horrible Ammonite god Milcom.

    14He smashed the sacred pillars to bits, cut down the Asherah poles, and filled those shrines with human bones.

    15He also tore down the altar in Bethel at the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin. He burned all the combustible items at that high place and crushed them to dust; including the Asherah pole.

    16When Josiah turned around, he saw the tombs there on the hill. So he ordered the bones from the tombs to be brought; he burned them on the altar and defiled it, just as in the LORD’s message that was announced by the prophet while Jeroboam stood by the altar during a festival. Then the king turned and saw the grave of the prophet who had foretold this.

  • 2 Chr 33:15
    77%

    15He removed the foreign gods and images from the LORD’s temple and all the altars he had built on the hill of the LORD’s temple and in Jerusalem; he threw them outside the city.

  • 2 Kgs 23:19-20
    2 verses
    77%

    19Josiah also removed all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria. The kings of Israel had made them and angered the LORD. He did to them what he had done to the high place in Bethel.

    20He sacrificed all the priests of the high places on the altars located there, and burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Kgs 21:3
    76%

    3He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them.

  • 2 Kgs 24:13
    75%

    13Nebuchadnezzar took from there all the riches in the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and of the royal palace. He removed all the gold items which King Solomon of Israel had made for the LORD’s temple, just as the LORD had warned.

  • 2 Chr 24:7-8
    2 verses
    75%

    7(Wicked Athaliah and her sons had broken into God’s temple and used all the holy items of the LORD’s temple in their worship of the Baals.)

    8The king ordered a chest to be made and placed outside the gate of the LORD’s temple.

  • 2 Kgs 23:24
    75%

    24Josiah also got rid of the ritual pits used to conjure up spirits, the magicians, personal idols, disgusting images, and all the detestable idols that had appeared in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. In this way he carried out the terms of the law recorded on the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the LORD’s temple.

  • 2 Chr 23:17
    74%

    17All the people went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

  • 2 Chr 34:7
    74%

    7he tore down the altars and Asherah poles, demolished the idols, and smashed all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chr 29:16
    74%

    16The priests then entered the LORD’s temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the LORD’s temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside. The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley.

  • 2 Chr 30:14
    74%

    14They removed the altars in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.

  • 2 Chr 33:3
    74%

    3He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them.

  • 2 Chr 33:5
    74%

    5In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.

  • 2 Chr 31:1
    74%

    1When all this was over, the Israelites who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes in their cities.

  • 2 Kgs 21:5
    74%

    5In the two courtyards of the LORD’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.

  • 2 Chr 28:24
    74%

    24Ahaz gathered the items in God’s temple and removed them. He shut the doors of the LORD’s temple and erected altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chr 36:18-19
    2 verses
    73%

    18He carried away to Babylon all the items in God’s temple, whether large or small, as well as what was in the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and in the treasuries of the king and his officials.

    19They burned down the God’s temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items.

  • 2 Kgs 11:18
    73%

    18All the people of the land went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols to bits. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altar. Jehoiada the priest then placed guards at the LORD’s temple.

  • 2 Chr 28:3-4
    2 verses
    73%

    3He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites.

    4He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

  • Jer 19:13
    73%

    13The houses in Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled by dead bodies just like this place, Topheth. For they offered sacrifice to the stars and poured out drink offerings to other gods on the roofs of those houses.’”

  • 2 Kgs 17:11
    73%

    11They burned incense on all the high places just like the nations whom the LORD had driven away from before them. Their evil practices made the LORD angry.

  • 2 Chr 29:18-19
    2 verses
    72%

    18They went to King Hezekiah and said:“We have purified the entire temple of the LORD, including the altar of burnt sacrifice and all its equipment, and the table for the Bread of the Presence and all its equipment.

    19We have prepared and consecrated all the items that King Ahaz removed during his reign when he acted unfaithfully. They are in front of the altar of the LORD.

  • 2 Kgs 17:16
    72%

    16They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal.

  • 2 Kgs 10:22
    72%

    22Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe,“Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them.

  • Jer 52:13
    72%

    13He burned down the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house.

  • 2 Kgs 22:4
    72%

    4“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the LORD’s temple and has been collected by the guards at the door.

  • 2 Kgs 25:9
    71%

    9He burned down the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house.

  • 2 Kgs 23:2
    71%

    2The king went up to the LORD’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, all the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the prophets. All the people were there, from the youngest to the oldest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the LORD’s temple.

  • 2 Chr 36:7
    71%

    7Nebuchadnezzar took some of the items in the LORD’s temple to Babylon and put them in his palace there.

  • Deut 7:5
    71%

    5Instead, this is what you must do to them: You must tear down their altars, shatter their sacred pillars, cut down their sacred Asherah poles, and burn up their idols.

  • Jer 8:2
    71%

    2They will be spread out and exposed to the sun, the moon and the stars. These are things they adored and served, things to which they paid allegiance, from which they sought guidance, and worshiped. The bones of these people will never be regathered and reburied. They will be like manure used to fertilize the ground.

  • 2 Chr 32:12
    71%

    12Hezekiah is the one who eliminated the LORD’s high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem,“At one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices.”