Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 14:23
For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
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. Ashrim. See above on 1Ki 14:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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 Israels 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 mans nature, which without Gods grace is ready to break forth into all sorts of wickedness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For they also built them high places,…. Which, though allowed of, or at least connived at, before the temple was built, and when the tabernacle was unfixed, yet afterwards unlawful; and the tribe of Judah could have no excuse for them, who had the temple in their tribe:
and images; contrary to the express command of God, Ex 20:4,
and groves on every high hill, and under every green tree; that is, set up idols, and temples for idols, amidst groves of trees, and under all green trees; as was the custom of the Heathens, who sacrificed on the heights of hills and tops of mountains, as was particularly the custom of the Persians, as both Herodotus m and Xenophon n relate; and with the Getae, a people in Thrace, was a mountain they reckoned sacred o.
m Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 131. n Cyropaedia, l. 8. c. 45. o Strabo Geograph. l. 7. p. 206.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(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 Gods 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 treesuch trees as were notable for size and shade in the bareness of the hills of Palestine.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
groves. See note on Exo 34:13, and App-42.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
built: 1Ki 3:2, Deu 12:2, Isa 57:5, Eze 16:24, Eze 16:25, Eze 20:28, Eze 20:29
images: or, standing images, or statues, Lev 26:1
groves: Mic 5:14, Deu 12:2, 2Ki 17:9, 2Ki 17:10, 2Ki 21:3-7, 2Ch 28:4, Jer 17:2
under every: Isa 57:5, Jer 3:13
Reciprocal: Lev 17:5 – in the open 1Ki 14:15 – provoking 1Ki 15:12 – all the idols 1Ki 20:23 – Their gods 1Ki 22:43 – the high 2Ki 10:26 – images 2Ki 16:4 – on the hills 2Ki 17:16 – a grove 2Ki 17:19 – Also Judah 2Ki 23:6 – the grove 2Ch 24:18 – And they left 2Ch 33:3 – made groves Jer 3:6 – she is Eze 6:13 – upon Hos 4:14 – and they Hos 10:1 – images