2 Chronicles 28 4

2 Chronicles 28:4 kjv

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

2 Chronicles 28:4 nkjv

And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

2 Chronicles 28:4 niv

He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.

2 Chronicles 28:4 esv

And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

2 Chronicles 28:4 nlt

He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the pagan shrines and on the hills and under every green tree.

2 Chronicles 28 verses

2 Chronicles 28 4 Meaning

2 Chronicles 28:4 describes King Ahaz's profound and widespread idolatry. It signifies his complete rejection of the true worship of the Lord, as mandated by the Mosaic Law, in favor of pagan cultic practices. He not only engaged in sacrifices and burned incense but did so in locations explicitly forbidden for the worship of YHWH – "on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree," demonstrating a comprehensive embrace of the spiritual wickedness prevalent in the surrounding nations.

2 Chronicles 28 4 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 28 recounts the disastrous reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Immediately following the account of his initial wickedness in 2 Chronicles 28:1-3, where it states he did not do what was right like David and even burned his own son as an offering, verse 4 further details the scope and nature of his apostasy. Ahaz’s reign (735-715 BC) was a period of extreme spiritual decline and national distress. The kingdom of Judah was caught between powerful empires (Assyria, Aram) and subject to internal moral decay. Instead of relying on the Lord, Ahaz turned to foreign alliances and embraced their gods and rituals. The actions described in this verse—offering sacrifices and burning incense in pagan sites—represent a direct and open defiance of the Law of Moses, which strictly prohibited such syncretistic practices and commanded the destruction of all high places dedicated to foreign deities. These actions were deeply ingrained in the religious landscape of the surrounding Canaanite and Mesopotamian cultures, often associated with fertility cults and polytheism, and Ahaz wholeheartedly adopted them.

2 Chronicles 28 4 Word analysis

• He also offered sacrifices: The Hebrew words involved are typically zavakh (זָבַח - to sacrifice) and qatar (קָטַר - to make a sacrifice go up in smoke, to burn incense). While these terms are used for legitimate worship to YHWH, their application here in context with forbidden locations clearly signifies a redirection of worship to false gods. Ahaz appropriated acts of devotion intended for the one true God and defiled them for idolatry.
• and burned incense: This act, qatar, involved releasing fragrant smoke, a profound expression of devotion and appeal to deities. When directed toward false gods, it became a severe transgression, symbolic of turning one's deepest spiritual affections away from YHWH. It implied reverence and supplication to non-existent deities or demons.
• on the high places: The Hebrew term is bamah (בָּמָה). These were elevated cultic sites, often stone altars or pillars, originally used by Canaanites for pagan worship. Despite God's command to destroy them (Deut 12:2-3), bamot (plural) frequently reappeared in Israel and Judah, even under relatively good kings, illustrating the persistent temptation to syncretism. For Ahaz, these were chosen sites for apostasy.
• on the hills: This extends the reach of idolatry beyond dedicated bamot to any elevated terrain. It signifies that Ahaz's worship of idols was not limited to established pagan shrines but was widespread, demonstrating a pervasive religious corruption that permeated the natural landscape. Hills and mountains were commonly associated with divine presence in ancient Near Eastern religions, and this term shows Ahaz sought to honor false gods across varied high points.
• and under every green tree: The phrase takhat kol 'ets ra'anan (תַּחַת כָּל עֵץ רַעֲנָן). "Green tree" (lit. "lush" or "flourishing tree") points to large, prominent trees like oaks or terebinths, which were symbolic of life, fertility, and often associated with nature worship and fertility cults (e.g., Baal and Asherah worship). Such sites often included cultic prostitution and even child sacrifice. The phrase "every green tree" indicates the comprehensive and ubiquitous nature of Ahaz's idolatry, rejecting the centrality of the Jerusalem temple and YHWH's exclusive worship. It implies the pervasiveness and public nature of his apostasy, polluting the entire land.

• He also offered sacrifices and burned incense: This group of words describes the religious acts themselves. Ahaz did not just allow pagan worship; he actively participated in and promoted it. This indicates a personal commitment to the abominable practices rather than just passive toleration. The combining of sacrifices and incense burning portrays a full ceremonial commitment to idolatry.
• on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree: This phrase collectively highlights the illicit locations of worship. It speaks to a threefold geographical pervasive desecration of the land and a conscious rejection of the singular, divinely ordained place of worship—the Temple in Jerusalem. This was a stark deviation from the covenant and demonstrated his adoption of a multi-site, syncretistic religion that embraced the practices of the nations surrounding Judah. It's a motif repeatedly found in prophetic condemnation (e.g., Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea), marking the spiritual harlotry of Israel and Judah.

2 Chronicles 28 4 Bonus section

The chronicler's detailed account of Ahaz's sin, particularly the choice of forbidden worship sites, serves as a direct polemic against the pervasive allure of syncretism. It warns future generations of Judah against mimicking the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, which were consistently portrayed in biblical narratives as spiritual adultery and a path to destruction. The explicit mention of "every green tree" emphasizes the sensual and often licentious nature of these fertility cults, contrasting sharply with the purity and holiness demanded by YHWH. This detailed portrayal of sin prepares the reader for the subsequent narrative of divine chastisement upon Judah, linking the cause (Ahaz's idolatry) directly to the effect (military defeats and national degradation). The Chronicler emphasizes that this comprehensive apostasy was a primary cause of Judah's suffering under Ahaz.

2 Chronicles 28 4 Commentary

2 Chronicles 28:4 starkly illustrates the depth of King Ahaz's apostasy, setting the tone for his destructive reign. By "offering sacrifices and burning incense" at forbidden locations—the "high places, on the hills, and under every green tree"—Ahaz performed a calculated rejection of the covenant with YHWH. These sites were hallmarks of Canaanite polytheism and fertility cults, which God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy, not embrace. Ahaz's actions were not merely an accidental sin but a deliberate and comprehensive embrace of syncretism, mirroring the spiritual harlotry previously committed by kings of Israel and condemned by prophets. His widespread adoption of pagan rites signaled Judah's official abandonment of YHWH's exclusive claim, leading directly to the national humiliation and divine judgment detailed in the subsequent verses. This wholesale spiritual rebellion undermined the kingdom's foundation and brought the very judgment foretold for disobedience. Ahaz represents the epitome of a wicked king whose personal apostasy led to national ruin.