Verse 4

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.

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.