Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 33:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records King Manasseh’s specific actions immediately following the general statement of his evil conduct in 2 Chronicles 33:2. The account documents his reign over Judah at the precise moment he reversed his father Hezekiah’s religious reforms.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיָּשָׁב (va.ya.shav) literally means “he returned,” signaling a deliberate reversal of Hezekiah’s prior destruction of pagan sites. It is coupled with וַיִּבֶן (va.yi.ven), “and he built,” to describe the physical restoration of the high places.
The thread — This reversal of covenant reforms parallels the prohibition against erecting Asherah poles beside altars in Deuteronomy 16:21 and the warning against bowing to the host of heaven in Deuteronomy 17:3. The national cleanup of such sites is later recorded in 2 Chronicles 31:1.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe that religious apostasy involves concrete, physical reconstruction of previously dismantled idols. It demands accountability by measuring covenant faithfulness against specific actions toward established altars and sacred poles.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 16:21 Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole next to the altar you will build for the LORD your God,
- Deuteronomy 17:3 and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—
- 2 Chronicles 31:1 When all this had ended, the Israelites in attendance went out to the cities of Judah and broke up the sacred pillars, chopped down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites returned to their cities, each to his own property.
- 2 Chronicles 30:14 They proceeded to remove the altars in Jerusalem and to take away the incense altars and throw them into the Kidron Valley.
- 2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.
- 2 Kings 23:5 Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.
- Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
- Jeremiah 19:13 The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”
- Zephaniah 1:5 those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,
- Deuteronomy 4:19 When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.