High place
An eminence, natural or artificial, where worship by sacrifice or offerings was made (1 Kgs 13:32; 2 Kgs 17:29). The first altar after the Flood was built on a mountain (Gen 8:20). Abraham also built an altar on a mountain (Gen 12:7, Gen 12:8). It was on a mountain in Gilead that Laban and Jacob offered sacrifices (Gen 31:54). After the Israelites entered the Promised Land they were strictly enjoined to overthrow the high places of the Canaanites (Ex 34:13; Deut 7:5; Deut 12:2, Deut 12:3), and they were forbidden to worship the Lord on high places (Deut 12:11–14), and were enjoined to use but one altar for sacrifices (Lev 17:3, Lev 17:4; Deut 12:1–32; Deut 16:21). The injunction against high places was, however, very imperfectly obeyed, and we find again and again mention made of them (2 Kgs 14:4; 2 Kgs 15:4, 2 Kgs 15:35:2 Chr 15:17, etc.).
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
