Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 23:13

And the high places that [were] before Jerusalem, which [were] on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

13. the mount of corruption ] This name was given to a portion of the Mount of Olives, because of the idolatrous temples which were erected there. It is called in the Vulgate rendering of this verse ‘Mons offensionis’, and so the hill is spoken of in Christian writings as ‘the Mount of Offence’. The word rendered ‘corruption’ is also often translated ‘destruction’ (see marg.), and this name is equally applicable, from the ruinous and destructive results which developed out of this introduction of idolatry by Solomon.

Ashtoreth ] On Ashtoreth, Chemosh and Milcom, and the temples which Solomon built for them under the influence of his heathen wives, see the notes on 1Ki 11:4-8.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 13. Mount of corruption] This, says Jarchi, following the Chaldee, was the mount of Olives, for this is the mount hammishchah, of unction; but because of the idolatrous purposes for which it was used, the Scripture changed the appellation to the mount hammashchith, of corruption.

Ashtoreth the abomination, c.] See on 1Kg 11:7.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The mount of corruption, i.e. the Mount of Olives, 1Ki 11:7, here called the mount of corruption, for the gross idolatry there practised, which is oft expressed by the name of corruption. See Exo 32:7; Deu 32:5. In the Hebrew is an elegant allusion between miscah, anointing, and masheith, corruption, as there is between Beth-el and Beth-aven, Hos 4:15.

Which Solomon had builded; not the same individual altars; which doubtless either Solomon upon his repentance, or some other of Josiahs godly predecessors, had taken away long before this time; but other altars built by Manasseh or Amon, which because erected by Solomons example, and for the same use, and in the same place, are called by his name; this brand being left by the Holy Ghost upon his name and memory, as a just punishment of that abominable practice, and a mean to deter others from the like.

For Ashtoreth; of which and the rest See Poole “1Ki 11:5“; See Poole “1Ki 11:6“; See Poole “1Ki 11:7“.

The abomination, i.e. the idol, so called, because it was abominable, and made them abominable to God.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

13, 14. the high places . . . whichSolomon . . . had builded(See on 1Ki11:5).

the right hand of the mountof corruptionThe Mount of Olives is a hilly range on the eastof Jerusalem. This range has three summits, of which the central oneis the Mount of Corruption, so called from the idol temples builtthere, and of course the hill on the right hand denotes thesouthernmost peak. Josiah is said not to have destroyed, but onlydefiled, “the high places on the hill of corruption.” It ismost probable that Hezekiah had long before demolished the idolatroustemples erected there by Solomon but, as the superstitious peoplecontinued to regard the spot as consecrated ground, Josiah defiledit.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And the high places that were before Jerusalem,…. Not only that were within the city, and at the gates of it, but what were without it:

which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption: the mount of Olives, so called from the idolatry and corrupt worship performed in it, by way of reproach, with a small alteration of the letters of the word for ; at the right hand, or south of this mountain, as the Targum; though others say q, on the north side of the mount of Olives, four furlongs or half a mile from Jerusalem, were high places:

which Solomon king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon; of which

[See comments on 1Ki 11:5] [See comments on 1Ki 11:7]

did the king defile; by casting unclean things into them. Rauwolff r says,

“before Mount Zion toward the south, at the other side of the rivulet Kidron, lies the mount of transgression, called Mashith, 2Ki 23:13, this is higher and steeper than any hereabout; there you still see some old walls of habitations, wherein the concubines of Solomon did live;”

and Mr. Maundrell s observes, that below the hill stands now a village called Siloe, where it is said he kept them.

q Vid Adrichom. Theatrum T. S. p. 171. r Travels, par. 3. c. 4. p. 233. s Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 102.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(13) The high places that were before the city . . .See 1Ki. 11:5-8. Before means to the east of, because, to determine the cardinal points, one faced the sunrise. The right hand was then the south, the left hand the north, and the back the west.

The mount of corruption.The southern summit of the Mount of Olives was so-called, because of the idolatry there practised. It still bears the name of the Hill of Offence, derived from the Vulg. mons offensionis. (The word rendered corruption, mashhth, may originally have meant anointing, from mshah to anoint, and have simply referred to the olive oil there produced. The name would thus be equivalent to the German Oelberg. In later times the term was so modified as to express detestation of idol-worship.)

Did the king defile.As it is not said that they were pulled down, these high places may have been merely sacred sites on the mountain, consisting of a levelled surface of rock, with holes scooped in them for receiving libations, &c. Such sites have been found in Palestine; and it is hardly conceivable that chapels erected by Solomon for the worship of Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Milcom, would have been spared by such a king as Hezekiah, who even did away with the high places dedicated to Jehovah (2Ki. 18:3).

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

13. Mount of corruption The southern part of the Mount of Olives, now known as the Mount of Offence. Solomon probably erected idolatrous altars on various peaks of Olivet, (see note on 1Ki 11:7,) but they seem gradually to have been removed towards the southern slopes, or right hand of the mountain, to one looking eastward from Jerusalem.

Which Solomon builded See on 1Ki 11:1-8. It appears, then, that at least some of the high places erected by Solomon had remained until the time of Josiah.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Ki 23:13. Mount of corruption Mount of olives; Houbigant; who supposes the word mashchith, which we render corruption, to be derived from mashach, to anoint.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

2Ki 23:13 And the high places that [were] before Jerusalem, which [were] on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

Ver. 13. And the high places that were before Jerusalem. ] There they had boldly set up their abominable idols in mount Olivet, even in the sight of the Lord; so that he never looked out of the sanctuary but he saw that vile hill, which, therefore, he here calleth not Har Hammisha, a the mount of annointing, but Har Hammaschith, b the mount of corruption. Est tacita paranomasia; item allusio, item detorsio.

Of the mount of corruption. ] So called, because the people had there corrupted themselves, as Deu 32:5 ; and yet afterwards it became our Saviour’s oratory, or usual place of prayer, This showeth, that places which have been abused to idolatry, may yet afterwards be used for God’s service. As for that which we read, Deu 12:2-3 , “Ye shall utterly destroy all the places,” &c., divines answer, that that was a temporary ordinance, and a part of Moses’s polity, now abrogated.

Which Solomon had builded. ] But, after his repentance, had demolished, likely; though, by the idolatrous princes that came after him, they were rebuilded, and called still by his name.

a Of Mashach.

b Of Shacah.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)