Dictionary of Bible Themes A local sanctuary, often dedicated to pagan worship. Before the building of the temple the Israelites worshipped at several divinely sanctioned shrines; afterwards, worship at a central sanctuary was required. True worship of God required that pagan shrines be destroyed. It was Israel's failure to abandon these religious sites that led to syncretism and apostasy. Ezekiel 6:13Common features of pagan shrines A location on high ground under trees See also 2 Kings 17:10Mountains were considered the dwelling- places of the gods, whilst trees were associated with fertility. Isaiah 1:29Jeremiah 2:20 Ezekiel 18:11 sacred trees Ezekiel 20:28mountain shrines Isaiah 44:13See also Idols and sacred symbols 2 Kings 10:26-27; 17:29-312 Chronicles 34:3-4 Acts 19:24 2 Kings 23:5,20 A serving priesthood Jeremiah 48:35See also Sacrifice to the deity 1 Kings 22:432 Kings 12:3; 16:4 2 Chronicles 28:25 pp 2Ch 28:4 Genesis 38:21-22Deuteronomy 23:17 Shrine-prostitution 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12Job 36:14 Deuteronomy 12:2-3 Pagan shrines were to be destroyed See also On Israel's entry into Canaan Exodus 34:13-14Numbers 33:52 Deuteronomy 7:5 Judges 6:25 2 Kings 23:8-20 As a sign of religious reformation See also 2 Kings 10:252 Chronicles 14:3; 17:6 2 Kings 18:4 1 Kings 3:2-3 Shrines in Israel for the worship of God Worship at the high places See also 2 Chronicles 33:17Following Canaanite custom, Israel set up shrines on high ground possibly, against God's instruction, at old Baal sites. Worship at these non-legitimate sites was condemned. Exodus 20:24See also Worship at sites sanctioned by God Judges 6:22-241 Samuel 9:12-14; 10:5 Genesis 12:8 Examples of shrines dedicated to God Judges 21:2Bethel: Joshua 18:1Judges 21:19 Shiloh: Judges 20:11 Samuel 7:6 Mizpah: 1 Kings 3:4-51 Chronicles 16:39-40 Gibeon: 2 Chronicles 1:132 Kings 18:22 A central place of worship was later required See also pp Isa 36:7 Deuteronomy 12:4-7Following the building of the temple, worship in various scattered shrines was condemned, probably because of associations with pagan worship. 2 Samuel 7:13The central sanctuary was, initially, the place where the tabernacle was located. Eventually this was superseded by the temple pp 1Ch 17:12 Judges 17:5Israel's failure to abandon worship at the shrines led to apostasy See also Improper worship at shrines dedicated to God Judges 18:30-311 Kings 12:28-31; 13:32 2 Kings 17:32-33 2 Chronicles 11:15 Amos 4:4 2 Kings 23:4-7 Ezekiel 8:14-16 The corruption of temple worship 1 Kings 14:23-24Ezekiel 8:12 Shrines dedicated to false gods See also 1 Kings 11:7-82 Kings 21:2-3 Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35 Amos 5:26 Child sacrifice was amongst the syncretistic practices adopted by Judah: Acts 7:43Ezekiel 16:24-25 See also Israel's spiritual adultery Jeremiah 3:6Ezekiel 16:39; 18:6 Hosea 4:12-13 Ezekiel 6:3-6 See also God's judgment on false places of worship Leviticus 26:30-31Hosea 10:8 See also 6240 rape6243 adultery, spiritual 7302 altar 7312 Baal 7374 high places 7440 scapegoat 8704 apostasy 8747 false gods 8752 false worship 8768 idolatry 8799 polytheism 8831 syncretism |
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