1 Kings 22:43 kjv
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
1 Kings 22:43 nkjv
And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
1 Kings 22:43 niv
In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
1 Kings 22:43 esv
He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.
1 Kings 22:43 nlt
Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the example of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.
1 Kings 22 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 12:2-4 | "You must destroy completely all the places... on the high mountains..." | God's command to destroy pagan worship sites. |
| Lev 26:30 | "And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars..." | God's judgment against high places. |
| Judg 2:11 | "And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD..." | Contrasting conduct, "in the sight of the LORD" phrase. |
| 1 Kgs 3:2 | "The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places..." | High places before the Temple, an enduring problem. |
| 1 Kgs 11:7 | "Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh... and for Molech..." | Idolatrous high places built by Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 15:11-14 | "Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD... high places were not taken away." | Direct parallel to Asa's partial reform. |
| 2 Chr 14:2-5 | "Asa did what was good and right... for he took away the foreign altars..." | Asa's reforms, removing altars and high places, yet 1 Kgs 15:14 adds nuance. |
| 2 Chr 15:17 | "But the high places were not taken away from Israel." | Reiteration of Asa's failure regarding high places in Israel (context Judah). |
| 2 Kgs 18:3-4 | "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places..." | Hezekiah, a later king, successfully removes high places. |
| 2 Kgs 22:2 | "And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of David his father..." | Josiah's righteousness, walking in David's ways. |
| 2 Kgs 23:4-15 | "And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest... to remove all the articles..." | Josiah's comprehensive removal of high places and idolatry. |
| Jer 7:30-31 | "For the children of Judah have done evil in My sight,' declares the LORD... built high places of Topheth..." | High places linked to abominable practices. |
| Ezek 6:3-6 | "Behold, I am bringing a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places." | God's judgment pronounced against high places. |
| Hos 4:13 | "They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills..." | Prophet's denouncement of worship at high places. |
| Deut 6:18 | "You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD..." | Command to obey God's law. |
| Jer 10:2 | "Thus says the LORD: Learn not the way of the nations..." | Warning against following gentile practices, including worship. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race... that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him..." | God's call for holiness and separation for His people. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" | New Covenant call to shun idolatry and maintain spiritual purity. |
| 1 Cor 10:20-21 | "No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons... You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." | Clear separation from practices connected to demons. |
| Rev 2:14 | "But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam..." | Church allowing compromising practices (symbolic of idolatry). |
| Jas 4:4 | "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" | Warning against spiritual adultery, related to compromise with the world. |
| Mt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other..." | Inability to fully serve God while holding onto idols or compromising practices. |
1 Kings 22 verses
1 Kings 22 43 Meaning
This verse evaluates the reign of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, affirming that he consistently followed the righteous path of his father, Asa, and acted in accordance with what was right in the eyes of the LORD. However, it notes a significant blemish: the continued existence of high places. This was due to the ongoing practice of the people who persisted in offering sacrifices and burning incense at these forbidden sites, despite the king's general righteousness.
1 Kings 22 43 Context
First Kings chapter 22 marks a pivotal point, detailing the alliance between Jehoshaphat of Judah and Ahab of Israel. While Jehoshaphat generally enjoyed a positive evaluation as a righteous king who sought the LORD, his political alliance with the idolatrous Ahab is a significant point of concern within his narrative, culminating in the battle of Ramoth-gilead. Verse 43, however, provides a summary assessment of his reign's overall piety before detailing his foreign policy and its consequences. It positions Jehoshaphat within the long line of Judah's kings, highlighting the continuous struggle against pagan influence, particularly the problem of the "high places" (בָּמוֹת, bamot), which remained a pervasive challenge even for otherwise faithful kings. The verse directly links his spiritual character to his father Asa, suggesting a generational pattern of righteousness with a recurring specific flaw.
1 Kings 22 43 Word analysis
- And he walked: Hebrew: wayyelek (וַיֵּלֶךְ). This verb (הָלַךְ, halak) implies continuous action, a consistent manner of living and conducting oneself. It's not a singular event but describes the overall pattern of his life and reign. This indicates Jehoshaphat's persistent commitment.
- in all the ways: Hebrew: bekol-darkhei (בְּכָל־דַּרְכֵי). Derek (דֶּרֶךְ) signifies a path, a course of conduct, custom, or manner of life. "All the ways" suggests a comprehensive adherence to the preceding model.
- of Asa his father: This direct reference frames Jehoshaphat's reign in terms of a specific human model. Asa's reign (1 Kgs 15:9-24) was marked by significant religious reforms and devotion to the LORD, though it too had a caveat regarding the high places (1 Kgs 15:14). Jehoshaphat emulated Asa's general godliness.
- he turned not aside from it: Hebrew: lo sar mimennu (לֹא סָר מִמֶּנּוּ). This phrase denotes steadfastness, consistency, and an unwillingness to deviate from the established path. It underscores his fidelity.
- doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: Hebrew: la'asot hayashar be'einei YHWH (לַעֲשׂוֹת הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה). This is the standard evaluative phrase for a righteous king in the Books of Kings, contrasting human perspective with divine judgment. It emphasizes that his conduct met God's standard.
- nevertheless the high places were not taken away: Hebrew: raq habamot lo saru (רַק הַבָּמוֹת לֹא סָרוּ). The word raq (רַק, "nevertheless," "only," "yet") introduces a critical qualification. Bamot (בָּמוֹת) refers to illicit sites of worship, typically elevated places, which could be used for pagan cults or, less commonly, syncretistic Yahweh worship that defied the singular worship site prescribed in Deuteronomy. This reveals a major unresolved religious issue.
- for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places: This explanatory clause clarifies why the high places remained. It wasn't solely due to the king's oversight, but also because of the deeply entrenched religious practices of the populace. This implies either a limit to the king's power, a reluctance on his part to enforce the Deuteronomic law thoroughly, or a compromise driven by the people's stubborn adherence to popular custom. The verb "offered" (זָבַח, zabach - sacrifice) and "burnt incense" (קָטַר, qatar - cause to smoke) are cultic terms for worship activities, underscoring the gravity of their persistence outside authorized channels.
1 Kings 22 43 Bonus section
The consistent use of the evaluative formula for kings in Kings and Chronicles (e.g., "doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD" vs. "did what was evil") highlights the theological agenda of the Deuteronomistic Historian: the success and duration of a king's reign were directly tied to their adherence to God's covenant laws, especially regarding monotheistic worship and the destruction of idolatry. The recurrent issue of the "high places" serves as a narrative motif throughout Kings, demonstrating a failure of comprehensive reform until later kings like Hezekiah and Josiah. This detail suggests that while kings could enforce religious reforms to varying degrees, the deep-seated spiritual condition of the people often presented an intractable challenge. The tolerance of high places often paved the way for more overt paganism in subsequent generations, illustrating the subtle but persistent danger of religious compromise and partial obedience.
1 Kings 22 43 Commentary
Verse 1 Kings 22:43 encapsulates a common tension in the lives of otherwise good kings of Judah: their personal devotion to God often coexisted with incomplete religious reforms. Jehoshaphat, like his father Asa, is highly commended for his general uprightness and dedication to the LORD. His commitment was comprehensive and consistent. However, the recurring problem of the "high places" stands as a significant blemish on his otherwise exemplary record. This persistent issue was a direct violation of the Deuteronomic law which commanded worship only at a single, chosen sanctuary. The fact that the "people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places" indicates either a lack of resolve on the king's part to completely eradicate this popular, perhaps syncretistic, form of worship, or a deeply ingrained spiritual rebellion within the populace that defied even a righteous monarch's efforts. This demonstrates that true reform requires not just royal decree but a transformation of the people's hearts and practices.