2 Kings 15 4

2 Kings 15:4 kjv

Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

2 Kings 15:4 nkjv

except that the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

2 Kings 15:4 niv

The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

2 Kings 15:4 esv

Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.

2 Kings 15:4 nlt

But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

2 Kings 15 verses

2 Kings 15 4 Meaning

This verse acts as a crucial caveat to the otherwise positive assessment of King Azariah's (Uzziah) reign in Judah, indicating a significant religious compromise. It states that despite his overall righteousness, the "high places"—sites of unauthorized, and often idolatrous, worship—were not dismantled. Consequently, the populace continued to engage in sacrifices and burn incense at these forbidden locations, thus perpetuating syncretistic or illicit worship practices alongside, or in place of, pure Yahwism at the Jerusalem Temple.

2 Kings 15 4 Context

2 Kings chapter 15 records the turbulent succession of kings in both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, marked by frequent assassinations, instability, and moral decay. Verse 4 specifically concerns Azariah, also known as Uzziah, King of Judah, who began his reign in 2 Kings 15:1-3. The preceding verse states he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done," setting an initial positive tone for his long reign (52 years). However, verse 4 immediately qualifies this by noting his failure to eliminate the high places. Historically and culturally, "high places" (Hebrew: bamot) were elevated sites, sometimes on natural hills or artificial mounds, where worship occurred. Before the centralized worship at the Jerusalem Temple, some such sites may have been legitimate, like those where Samuel and Elijah worshipped. However, following the Deuteronomic reform principles (Deu 12) and the construction of Solomon's Temple, all worship outside Jerusalem was deemed illicit and often corrupted by Canaanite cult practices, involving fertility rites, Asherah poles, and even child sacrifice in later periods. The kings' failure to remove these sites often indicated incomplete adherence to Yahwism, a reluctance to confront popular syncretism, or a compromise with traditional, albeit unlawful, worship patterns. The persistence of high places was a constant struggle for many "good" kings in Judah and Israel, serving as an underlying cause for subsequent moral and spiritual decline. This verse thus directly implies a polemic against this syncretistic religious practice and the royal inability to enforce the purity of Yahweh worship.

2 Kings 15 4 Word analysis

• However: (וְאוּלָם - wə’ûlām) This conjunctive particle serves as an adversative, introducing a contrasting or qualifying statement. It highlights a critical exception or limitation to the generally positive assessment of King Azariah's reign given in the previous verse, signaling an inherent flaw.
• the high places: (הַבָּמוֹת - ha-bāmōt) This is a crucial term, referring to sites for worship, often located on elevated ground or built as cultic platforms. Originally, they might have been legitimate local sanctuaries before the Jerusalem Temple was established. However, in the post-Temple period and under the Deuteronomic law, these became illegitimate and were frequently associated with idolatrous practices (Baal, Asherah, etc.) or syncretistic worship that blended Yahwism with Canaanite cults. Their continued existence symbolized incomplete religious reformation and defiance of God's command for centralized, pure worship.
• were not removed: (לֹא־סָרוּ - lō’-sārū) This phrase uses the passive voice for "removed" or "taken away," indicating that action was not taken by the king to abolish these sites. It points to a failure of leadership and will on Azariah's part to completely eradicate illicit worship, despite his personal piety. This non-removal facilitated ongoing religious deviation among the populace.
• the people: (הָעָם - hā-‘ām) Refers to the general populace of Judah. It signifies that the continuation of illicit worship at high places was a widespread issue, reflecting either their preference for traditional local cults or their indifference to God's exclusive covenant demands. Their behavior was directly enabled by the king's inaction.
• still: (עוֹד - ‘ōḏ) An adverb meaning "still," "yet," or "continually." It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the illicit practices, indicating that the king's initial righteousness did not lead to a full reformation among the people.
• sacrificed: (מְזַבְּחִים - məzabbəḥîm) A verb referring to the act of offering sacrifices, typically animals, as an act of worship. While legitimate at the Temple, performing them at the high places rendered them illicit and often idolatrous.
• and burned incense: (וּמְקַטְּרִים - ū-məqaṭṭərîm) This refers to offering aromatic substances as part of worship, symbolizing prayer or devotion. Like sacrificing, this was a legitimate practice when performed in the Temple, but performing it at the high places was an affront to God, who commanded exclusive worship in the chosen place.
• on them: (בָּהֶם - bāhem) A pronoun referring back to "the high places," explicitly specifying the location where the forbidden worship activities continued.

Words-group Analysis:

• "However, the high places were not removed": This opening clause establishes the king's critical failure despite his otherwise positive report. It signifies a significant moral and spiritual blind spot or compromise in his otherwise faithful reign. This highlights a persistent theological problem throughout the Divided Monarchy, where incomplete obedience, particularly regarding centralized worship, undermined spiritual purity.
• "the people still sacrificed and burned incense on them": This phrase details the direct consequence of the king's inaction. It illustrates the enduring grip of syncretistic religious practices on the Judahite population. Their continued worship activities at these illicit sites demonstrated a deep-seated spiritual complacency or active rejection of the covenant's exclusivity, allowed to flourish by the highest authority.

2 Kings 15 4 Bonus section

• The protracted presence of the "high places" even under relatively good kings like Azariah indicates the deep-rooted nature of popular religious traditions and the formidable challenge posed to kings attempting true reform. It was likely a blend of ancestral customs, convenience of local worship, and perhaps a deliberate blending of Yahwism with fertility cults for agricultural prosperity.
• While Azariah is depicted positively overall in Kings (except for this verse), 2 Chronicles 26 adds another dimension to his end, noting he was afflicted with leprosy because he presumptuously entered the Temple to burn incense, an act reserved for priests. This later act also speaks to a failure to fully respect boundaries and God's holiness, albeit a different specific command.
• The tolerance of "high places" stands in stark contrast to the thorough reforms of later kings like Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4) and Josiah (2 Kings 23:8), who explicitly and violently tore down these structures, demonstrating a complete commitment to exclusive Yahweh worship. Their actions show that it was possible to remove them, highlighting the specific deficiency of earlier kings.
• The persistence of "high places" can be seen as a spiritual parallel to unresolved sin in an individual's life. Even when one generally seeks to live righteously, unaddressed areas of compromise can become lingering stumbling blocks that enable continued spiritual idolatry or disobedience, preventing a complete turning to God.

2 Kings 15 4 Commentary

2 Kings 15:4 highlights the enduring challenge of religious purity in Judah during the reign of Azariah (Uzziah). Though personally described as a king who "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord," echoing a positive standard, his failure to abolish the "high places" exposed a fundamental flaw in his reign and the nation's spiritual life. This wasn't a minor oversight but a crucial lapse, as God had explicitly commanded the destruction of such illicit worship sites. The text directly links Azariah's inaction to the continued apostasy of the people, who "still sacrificed and burned incense on them." This illustrates a vital principle: the responsibility of leadership extends to ensuring the spiritual purity of the populace. A king's incomplete obedience enabled ongoing popular sin, preventing full conformity to God's will. The recurring motif of "the high places were not removed" across various kings' narratives (e.g., Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoash, Amaziah) underscores a persistent problem of national syncretism or lukewarm adherence to Yahwism that ultimately contributed to Judah's decline. This verse implicitly criticizes any leadership that tolerates or enables religious compromise, even if the leader themselves is outwardly pious. It serves as a stark reminder that true righteousness involves comprehensive obedience to God's commands, leaving no room for spiritual alternatives.