1 Reis 3

1 Reis 3

Morris - Worship in high places was forbidden in the Mosaic law (Lev 26:30) because of its universal association with the idolatrous polytheistic pantheism of other nations. Such practice probably originated at the Tower of Babel and then was carried worldwide by the subsequent dispersion. During the period of the Judges the Israelites adopted the Canaanite custom of offering sacrifices at...high places. These were on hilltops and other elevations. The pagan Canaanites felt that the closer they got to heaven the more likely was the possibility that their prayers and offerings would reach their gods. Offering sacrifices at places other than the tabernacle was prohibited in the Law (Lev 17:3,4). Nevertheless this practice was commonly observed in Israel at this time, even by Solomon. Charles Ryrie feels that "The use of high places to worship the Lord before the Temple was built in Jerusalem was not the abomination it later became." I would suggest that it was a testimony to incomplete obedience which would fester and become a full blown cancer to their soul. Within a short time these hilltop areas or high places would prove to be a setting where Canaanite religious rites could infiltrate Israel’s worship (1Ki 11:7 2Ki 16:4). When the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they were supposed to destroy all the hilltop shrines of the Canaanites (Nu 33:52 Dt 7:5 12:3) and build instead their own centers of worship at divinely approved sites (Ex 20:24; Jdg 6:24; 13:19 1Sa7:17 9:12, 13). Worship at these sites was acceptable until the central sanctuary discussed at length in Dt 12 was built. Because - Term of explanation. This one is easy to interrogate and answer unlike some of Paul's Terms of explanation! As with the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 1:3+ the writer gives the rationale for why worship at this high places was allowed by Jehovah. There was no house (no Temple yet in Jerusalem) built for the Name of the LORD (Jehovah) until those days. “Name” represented the character and presence of the Lord (cf. Ex 3:13, 14). He had promised to choose one place “to put His Name for His dwelling place” (Dt 12:5+). The temple at Jerusalem was to be that place (cf.1 Kings 5:3, 5 8:16, 17-20, 29, 43-44, 48,God answer to King David's prayer = 1 Kings 9:3, 7). In the ancient Near East, to identify a temple with a god’s name meant that the god owned the place and dwelt there. Bob