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2 Kings 12:3

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Kings 12:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
2 Kings 12:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Kings 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
2And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3Howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the hallowed things that is brought into the house of Jehovah, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it cometh into any man`s heart to bring into the house of Jehovah,
5let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
6But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But the high places were not taken away, etc.] Used before the temple was built, or set up in Rehoboam’s time, (<111423>1 Kings 14:23) contrary to the law of God, which required that sacrifices should only be offered in the place the Lord chose to dwell in, (<051204>Deuteronomy 12:4,6) the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places; as they had done in the times of Athaliah, and though the pure worship of God was restored at Jerusalem; and indeed this they did in all preceding reigns; nor was it in the power of the best of kings, at least they did not think it safe to attempt to remove them till Hezekiah’s time; so fond were the people of them because of their antiquity and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But the high places were not taken away--The popular fondness for the private and disorderly rites performed in the groves and recesses of hills was so inveterate that even the most powerful monarchs had been unable to accomplish their suppression; no wonder that in the early reign of a young king, and after the gross irregularities that had been allowed during the maladministration of Athaliah, the difficulty of putting an end to the superstitions associated with "the high places" was greatly increased.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The worship on the “high places” seems to have continued uninterruptedly to the time of Hezekiah, who abolished it 2 Kings 18:4. It was, however, again established by Manasseh, his son 2 Kings 21:3. The priests at this time cannot have regarded it as idolatrous, or Jehoiada would have put it during his regency. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Burnt incense - To the true God. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 12:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Kg2 14:4, Kg2 18:4; Kg1 15:14, Kg1 22:43; Ch2 31:4; Jer 2:20 4 Kings (2 Kings) 12:4”
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Related study paths

Read 2 Kings 12 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification