High places
High places were elevated worship sites used in the Old Testament. They could be associated with false worship, and even when used for the Lord, they often reflected worship outside the centralized pattern God established for Israel.
At a Glance
High places were elevated worship sites used in the Old Testament. They could be associated with false worship, and even when used for the Lord, they often reflected worship outside the centralized pattern God established for Israel.
Description
High places in the Old Testament were elevated or set-apart local worship sites, often marked by altars, pillars, wooden symbols, or other cultic features. In Israel’s history they are frequently linked with Canaanite religion and idolatry, and kings were evaluated in part by whether they removed or tolerated them. Scripture also records periods when sacrifices to the Lord were offered at such places, especially before worship was centralized, so the term is not used in exactly the same way in every passage. Even so, the overall biblical pattern is cautionary and usually negative: once God established the authorized place of worship for Israel, the continued use of high places commonly signaled compromise, syncretism, or failure to obey His commands fully.