Howbeit, the high places were not taken away
The high places, where idols were worshipped, were taken away, ( 2 Chronicles 17:6 ) , but not those where sacrifices were offered to the true God:
for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of
their fathers;
to seek and serve him wholly, according to his will, to offer sacrifices to him only at Jerusalem, as the law required, ( Deuteronomy 12:5-7 ) , they could not as yet be prevailed upon to relinquish the high places, built and made use of before the temple was; partly because they were nearer to some of them than that, and partly out of veneration for them, as being of a long time used.