Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 12:3
But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
3. But [R.V. Howbeit ] the high places were not taken away ] Worship having been permitted there before the temple was erected, it was difficult to draw the people away from them, as they would be nearer at hand than the one place set apart for sacrifice, viz. Jerusalem, and they would also have acquired a degree of consecration from long use.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The worship on the high places seems to have continued uninterruptedly to the time of Hezekiah, who abolished it 2Ki 18:4. It was, however, again established by Manasseh, his son 2Ki 21:3. The priests at this time cannot have regarded it as idolatrous, or Jehoiada would have put it during his regency.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. The high places were not taken away] Without the total destruction of these there could be no radical reform. The toleration of any species of idolatry in the land, whatever else was done in behalf of true religion, left, and in effect fostered, a seed which springing up, regenerated in time the whole infernal system. Jehoiada did not use his influence as he might have done; for as he had the king’s heart and hand with him, he might have done what he pleased.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The people were so fondly and strangely addicted to
the high places, that the foregoing kings, though men of riper years, and great power and courage, and finally settled in their thrones, could not take them away; and therefore it is not strange if Jehoiada could not now remove them, when the king was very young and tender, and not well settled in his kingdom, and when the people were more corrupt and disorderly through Athaliahs maladministration.
Sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places to God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. But the high places were nottaken awayThe popular fondness for the private and disorderlyrites performed in the groves and recesses of hills was so inveteratethat even the most powerful monarchs had been unable to accomplishtheir suppression; no wonder that in the early reign of a young king,and after the gross irregularities that had been allowed during themaladministration of Athaliah, the difficulty of putting an end tothe superstitions associated with “the high places” wasgreatly increased.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But the high places were not taken away,…. Used before the temple was built, or set up in Rehoboam’s time, 1Ki 14:23 contrary to the law of God, which required that sacrifices should only be offered in the place the Lord chose to dwell in, De 12:4 the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places; as they had done in the times of Athaliah, and though the pure worship of God was restored at Jerusalem; and indeed this they did in all preceding reigns; nor was it in the power of the best of kings, at least they did not think it safe to attempt to remove them till Hezekiah’s time; so fond were the people of them because of their antiquity and supposed sanctity, and for the sake of ease.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) But.Save that; as at 2Ki. 15:4. (For the statement of the verse, comp. 1Ki. 15:14.)
Sacrificed . . . burnt.Were wont to sacrifice . . . burn. The worship of the high places continued even under the rgime of Jehoiada.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. High places were not taken away And these were a constant temptation to idolatry. A nation that had been so thoroughly flooded with idolatrous practices as Israel could not be morally safe with these temptations ever before their eyes. The failure to abolish these was one great mistake of Joash and other kings who attempted reformation. Compare notes on 1Ki 3:2; 1Ki 15:14.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 12:3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Ver. 3. But the high places. ] Tyrannus ille trium literarum, mos; Custom had so prevailed, that Jehoiada durst not advise the king to cross the people in this superstition, lest it should cause a tumult; lest they should more regard commotioners than commissioners, and be more guided by rage, than by right; violence and obstinacy, like two untamed horses, drawing their desires in a blindfold career, as it fell out here in England when King Edward VI began to reform.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the high places. They were first abolished by Hezekiah, and then (after their revival by Manasseh) by Josiah. Note the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ki 14:4, 2Ki 18:4, 1Ki 15:14, 1Ki 22:43, 2Ch 31:4, Jer 2:20
Reciprocal: 1Ki 3:3 – only he 2Ki 15:3 – General 2Ch 15:17 – the high places Isa 65:7 – burned
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 12:3. But the high places were not taken away The people were so much and so strangely addicted to these private altars, (on which they sacrificed to the true God,) that the preceding kings, though men of riper years and greater power and courage than Jehoash, and firmly established on their thrones, were not able to remove them. And, therefore, it is not strange that Jehoiada could not now take them away, when the king was young, and not well settled in his kingdom, and when the people were more corrupt and disorderly through Athaliahs mal-administration.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:3 But {b} the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
(b) So hard a thing it is for them, that are in authority, to be brought to the perfect obedience of God.