High Place

A high place (Hebrew bāmāh, plural bāmôt) was an elevated site — natural hilltop or artificial platform — used for religious sacrifice and worship. Before the Jerusalem temple, sacrifice at local high places was tolerated or even practiced by the patriarchs (Gen. 8:20) and Israel (1 Sam. 9:12–14), and Solomon himself sacrificed at Gibeon, "the great high place" (1 Kings 3:4). After the temple was built, the persistent use of high places by the people of both kingdoms became a primary source of prophetic condemnation. The reforming kings Hezekiah and Josiah are distinguished by their destruction of the high places (2 Kings 18:4; 23:5–20). The high places were associated with the Asherah poles, standing stones, and incense altars of Canaanite religion, and their use represented syncretism between Yahwism and the fertility cults of Canaan.