2 Kings 12:3

3 Only the high places were not removed; the people [were] still making sacrifices and offering incense on the high places.

2 Kings 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 12:3

But the high places were not taken away
Used before the temple was built, or set up in Rehoboam's time, ( 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, ( Deuteronomy 12:4 Deuteronomy 12:6 ) 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 supposed sanctity, and for the sake of ease.

2 Kings 12:3 In-Context

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years, and the name of his mother [was] Zibiah from Beersheba.

2 Jehoash did right in the eyes of Yahweh all of his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

3 Only the high places were not removed; the people [were] still making sacrifices and offering incense on the high places.

4 Jehoash said to the priests, "All of the money for the sacred things that is brought to the temple of Yahweh, {the money taxed at its proper value for each person} [and] all of the money which comes upon the heart of a man to bring to the temple of Yahweh,

5 let the priests take for themselves, each from his treasurers, and let them repair the breach of the temple for every place where damage is found."