HIGH PLACES, in Hebrew, Bamoth, and in Latin, Excelsa. They are often spoken of in Scripture1; and the Prophets reproach the Israelites for nothing with so much zeal, as for worshipping upon the High Places. The destroying of these High Places is a commendation given but to few Princes in the Scripture; and many of them, though otherwise zealous for the observance of the Law, had not the courage to ruin these Eminences, and prevent the people from sacrificing upon them.
While the Temple was not built, there was nothing in the High Places very contrary to the Law, provided God only was adored there, and that no Incense or Victims were offered to Idols. Under the Judges they seem to have been tolerated; and Samuel offered Sacrifices in several places besides the Tabernacle, where the Ark was not present. Even in David’s time they sacrificed to the Lord at Shilo, Jerusalem, and Gibeon. But after that, the Temple was built, and a place prepared for the fixed settlement of the Ark, it was no more allowed of to sacrifice out of Jerusalem. Solomon in the beginning of his reign went a pilgrimage to Gibeon. But from that time we see no lawful Sacrifices offered out of the Temple.
The High Places2 were very much frequented in the kingdom of Israel. The superstitious people went sometimes upon Mountains sanctified by the presence of Patriarchs and Prophets, and by the appearances of God, in order to worship the true God there. There was nothing wanting in this worship to make it lawful besides the place which the Lord had chosen. But upon these Hills they often adored Idols, and committed a thousand abominations in Groves, and Caves, and in Tents set apart for prostitution. This was what inflamed the zeal of pious Kings and Prophets, to suppress and destroy the High Places.
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Footnotes
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1 Kings iii. 2, 4. xii. 31, 32. xiii. 2. xiv. 23, &c. במותBamoth, Excelsa. ↩
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Translators’ note. Dr. Prideaux thinks it probable, that the Proseuchæ, which, he says, were open Courts built like those in which the peo- ple prayed at the Tabernacle, and at the Temple, and in one of which our Saviour is said to have continued all night at his devotions, Luke vi. 12. were the same, which in the Old Testament are called High Places. And he is confirmed in this opinion, in that the Proseuchæ had Groves in or about them, in the same manner as the High Places had, &c. Connect. P. 1. B. VI. ↩