1 Kings 14:23

1Ki 14:23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.

Ver. 23. For they also built them high places.] They fell to foul idolatry and sodomy, which are called evil by a specialty, {1Ki 14:22} like as war is called evil, that is, misery, antonomastice {Isa 45:7}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14:23-24 Solomon had married foreign wives, who led his family into idolatry. Judah, under Rehoboam’s leadership, then perpetuated the detestable practices of the pagan nations that occupied the land before the Israelites. The spiritual decline of a nation easily follows from debased leadership, which leads to disgrace and destruction (Prov 14:34). • Shrine prostitutes were not uncommon in Canaan but were prohibited for Israel (see study notes on Lev 17:7; Deut 23:17-18). They became a part of Israelite society as the people embraced Canaanite culture.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(23) High places, and images, and groves.—On the “high places,” see 1Ki_3:2, and Note there. The “images” of this passage seem undoubtedly to have been stone pillars, as the “groves” (i.e., the asherahs) were wooden stumps of trees (possibly in both cases surmounted by some rude representation of the deity worshipped). The first mention of such a pillar is in Gen_28:18; Gen_31:13; Gen_35:14, there applied to the stone which Jacob raises and anoints, in order to mark the scene of the vision at Bethel; next, we find repeated commands to destroy them (with the asherahs also) as erected by the Canaanites (Exo_23:24; Exo_34:13; Lev_26:1; Deu_7:5; Deu_12:3), and to suffer neither near the altar of the Lord (Deu_16:21). Like the high places, it seems plain that both might be either unauthorised emblems of God’s presence or images of false gods; and, indeed, the stone pillar appears in some cases to be associated with the worship of Baal, as the Asherah with that of Ashtoreth. In this passage, from the strength of the language used, and from the notice in 1Ki_14:24, it seems that the grosser idolatry is referred to. It was practised “on every high hill, and every shady tree”—such trees as were notable for size and shade in the bareness of the hills of Palestine.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23. high places] We read constantly of ‘houses’ of the high places, and it is to these erections on some lofty hills that the ‘building’ here spoken of applies. See above, 1Ki_12:31.

images] The R.V. renders by pillars, with ‘obelisks’ in the margin. And this appears more correct than A. V. There is nothing in the word itself to denote an image. The root signifies ‘to set up,’ and this noun is applied to the stones which Jacob set up (Gen_28:18; Gen_31:45; Gen_35:14), and which Joshua set up (Jos_4:9) when the people had passed over Jordan. Probably therefore the erections made in Judah were only large stones. The name is given also to the ‘obelisks’ which stood at the entrance of the Temple of the Sun in Heliopolis (Jer_43:13).

and groves] R.V. Ashêrim. See above on 1Ki_14:15.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And there were also Sodomites in the land, Such as were addicted to unnatural lusts between men and men, which the men of Sodom were guilty of, from whence they had their name: Jarchi interprets the word adultery and some versions render it whoremongers; and filthy actions of this nature, both by men and women, usually attended idolatrous practices among the heathens; in their temples and groves such wickednesses were privately perpetrated:

and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel; the Canaanites, of whose uncleannesses, incests, and bestialities, see Lev 18:1.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The words “they also” are emphatic. Not only did the Israelites make themselves high places 1Ki 12:31; 1Ki 13:32, but the people of Judah also. The “high places,” which are said to have been “built,” were probably small shrines or tabernacles hung with bright-colored tapestry Eze 16:16, like the “sacred tent” of the Carthaginians.

The “images” were rather “pillars” (Gen 28:18 note).

Groves - See 1Ki 14:15, note. The “groves,” it will be observed, were “built” on high hills and “under green trees.”

Under every green tree - i. e., under all those remarkable trees which, standing singly about the land, were landmarks to their respective neighborhoods, and places of resort to travelers, who gladly rested under their shade Deu 12:2.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

High hill. Such places of devotion had been tolerated, before the temple was built: but now they were deemed profane. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

They also built them high places; they followed the example of the Israelites, although they were better instructed, and had the temple in their kingdom, and liberty of access to it, which was denied to the Israelites; and the privilege of worshipping God in his own way, and the counsels, and sermons, and examples of the priests and Levites to and stablish them, and the dreadful example of Israel’s horrid apostacy to caution and terrify them. The building of high places was unlawful, and now especially when the temple was built, and ready to receive them; unnecessary, and therefore expressed a greater contempt of God and his express command to the contrary.

Images and groves; not only after the manner of the heathens and Israelites, but against a direct and particular prohibition.

Under every green tree: the people were universally corrupted; which is a prodigious sin, all things considered, and is a clear evidence of the greatness and depth of the original corruption of man’s nature, which without God’s grace is ready to break forth into all sorts of wickedness.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. High places — Altars on hilltops. See note on 1Ki_3:2.

Images — Monumental pillars or statues erected to the honor of false gods.

Groves — Rather, wooden idols, erected to the honour of Ashtoreth. See note on 1Ki_14:15. A prominent height and a shady grove were the places desired by idolaters.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For they also i.e. , they as well as the ten tribes built them high places i.e. , houses of high places. See on 1Ki_3:2 1Ki_13:32 and images Heb. pillars or statues (twObXem LXX, sthlav). These were, no doubt, originally memorial pillars or stones, erected to commemorate some Divine manifestation, and with no thought of idolatry. (Gen_31:13 Gen_35:14, 20 28:18) But the Canaanites erected pillars, which were also statues or images, to their god, Baal. Hence we read of the "image" (hbXem) of Baal; (2Ki_3:2 2Ki_10:26, 2Ki_10:27; cf. 2Ki_18:4 2Ki_23:14) and hence also we find such images frequently mentioned side byside with the so-called "groves," i.e., the "Asherahs" (ver. 15; Exodus Deu_7:5 Deu_12:3 Deu_16:21, etc.) Both the Mazzebah and the Asherah, consequently, was an upright pillar or post, but the former was of stone, the latter of wood; the former dedicated to Baal, the god of nature, of generation; the latter to Ashtoreth, the goddess of nature and productive power. The gradual transition of the memorial pillar into the Baal statue is hinted at in Lev_26:1. It is observable that these idolatrous and immoral rites seem to have found a home in Judah before they were introduced into Israel and groves Asherahs, idols; see on ver. 15. This verse proves conclusively that the translation "grove" is a mistaken one on every high hill, and under every green tree. The phrase is from the Pentateuch, Deu_12:2; cf. Jer_2:20 Jer_3:6; Hos_4:13. "Probably the evil example of Maachah, his favourite wife, (2Ch_11:20-22) whose idolatrous tastes were displayed under Asa, (2Ch_15:16) was not without a pernicious effect on Rehoboam" (Wordsworth).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They also - Followed the example of the Israelites, although they were better instructed, and had the temple in their kingdom, and liberty of access to it, and the privilege of worshipping God in his own way, and the counsels, and sermons, and examples of the priests and Levites, and the dreadful example of Israel's horrid apostacy, to caution and terrify them. High places - Which was unlawful, and, now especially when the temple was built, and ready to receive them; unnecessary, and therefore expressed a greater contempt of God and his express command. Groves - Not only after the manner of the Heathens and Israelites, but against a direct and particular prohibition. Under every green tree - The people were universally corrupted: which is prodigious, all things considered, and is a clear evidence of the greatness and depth of the original corruption of man's nature.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

For they also built

The word "they" here refers to the people of Judah.

built for themselves

The words "for themselves" are a metonym for what they will do with the high places. AT: "built for their own use" (See: Metonymy and Reflexive Pronouns)

on every high hill and under every green tree

This is likely to be an exaggeration that indicates there were many places like these for false worship all over the country. AT: "on the high hills and under the green trees" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

cultic prostitutes

"religious prostitutes" or "male prostitutes." This probably refers to male prostitutes who were associated with idol worship.

the same despicable practices as the nations that

Here the word "nations" represents the people in those nations. AT: "the same disgusting things that the people did, whom" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

high place

column

Asherah

prostitute

nation

cast out

Israel

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

They too. Like the other tribes.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.