Bible Lexicons

Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old TestamentGirdlestone's OT Synonyms

The High Place

Another object connected with idolatrous worship is the High Place. The word used for it is Bamah (במה , Ass. bamahi). The usual rendering in the LXX is ὑψηλός, high; but we also find οἰ̂κος, a house; ἄλσοςa grove; βου̂νος, a hill; εἴδωλον, an idol; ἁμαρτία, sin (Micah 1:5); θυσιαστήριον and βωμός, an altar; ἔρημος, a desert; στήλη, a pillar; λίθοι, stones; ἔδαφοςa foundation; τράχηλος, a neck; and ἰσχὺς (Deuteronomy 32:13), strength.

The word appears without reference to idolatry in Deuteronomy 32:13, 'He made him ride on the high places of the earth,' where it is only used in a general sense. The same, perhaps, may be said of its usage in Deuteronomy 33:29 in Job 9:8, the 'waves' of the sea are literally 'High Places.' A high place is spoken of in 1 Samuel 10:13, where it seems to signify a hill, as also in 2 Samuel 1:19; 2 Samuel 1:25; 2 Samuel 22:34. See also Numbers 21:28; Numbers 22:41; Psalms 18:33; Psalms 78:69; Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 16:12; Jeremiah 48:35; Amos 4:13; Amos 7:9; Micah 1:3; Micah 1:5; Habakkuk 3:19; with regard to some of these passages, it may be doubtful whether the word is used in its general or special sense.

In the days of Solom on (1 Kings 3:2-3), we are told that 'the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built;' and when he went to Gibeon, 'where was a great high place,' he offered a thous and burnt offerings up on the altar. [ in the parallel passage (2 Chronicles 1:3) it is stated that the tabernacle of the congregation was at Gibeon, and that the high place was connected with it.] Here the Lord appeared to him, but did not rebuke him for what he had done. At that time the permanent temple was not built, and consequently full liberty was allowed. Shortly afterwards, however, Solom on 'built high places for Chemosh and for Molech,' the idols of Moab and Ammon, and then 'the Lord was angry with him' (1 Kings 11:7). See Leviticus 26:30; Numbers 33:52. Jeroboam also made 'houses of high places' (1 Kings 12:31), with priests, altars, and golden calves. These priests of the high places burned incense on the altar at Bethel, and were denounced by the man of God who came out of Judah. The building and use of high places with statues and groves now became very common in both kingdoms. See 1 Kings 14:23; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 12:3; 2 Kings 16:4 (Ahaz 'sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree'), 17:9, 29, 32. Asa, [Asa removed the high places from Judah (2 Chronicles 14:5), but not from Israel (2 Chronicles 15:17).] Jehosaphat, and afterwards Hezekiah, removed them, as far as possible, but Jehoram and Manasseh rebuilt them (2 Kings 21:3). Josiah again destroyed them, but the passion for these idolatrous rites was not easily to be rooted out. They appear to have been sometimes natural eminences, and sometimes constructed of earth or stones; occasionally they seem to have been used as altars; at other times they were surmounted by the Asherah in the discussion on Pre-Christian crosses already referred to (see p.309, note 3), it is stated that the old emblems of the tree of life were constantly placed on hills or mounds. this may throw some light on the orig in of the High Place. [When riding through the country of the Ammonites in 1860, the writer was struck with the great number of rude cromlechs which are visible on the hillsides. If these were for religious purposes, as seems most probable, may they not have been of the nature of high places?]