2 Kings 23:13

13 And the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ash'toreth the abomination of the Sido'nians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

2 Kings 23:13 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 23:13

And the high places that were before Jerusalem
Not only that were within the city, and at the gates of it, but what were without it:

which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption:
the mount of Olives, so called from the idolatry and corrupt worship performed in it, by way of reproach, with a small alteration of the letters of the word (tyxvm) for (hxvm) ; at the right hand, or south of this mountain, as the Targum; though others say ^F17, on the north side of the mount of Olives, four furlongs or half a mile from Jerusalem, were high places:

which Solomon king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination
of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites,
and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon;
of which (See Gill on 1 Kings 11:5) (See Gill on 1 Kings 11:7)

did the king defile;
by casting unclean things into them. Rauwolff ^F18 says,

``before Mount Zion toward the south, at the other side of the rivulet Kidron, lies the mount of transgression, called Mashith, ( 2 Kings 23:13 ) , this is higher and steeper than any hereabout; there you still see some old walls of habitations, wherein the concubines of Solomon did live;''

and Mr. Maundrell ^F19 observes, that below the hill stands now a village called Siloe, where it is said he kept them.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F17 Vid Adrichom. Theatrum T. S. p. 171.
F18 Travels, par. 3. c. 4. p. 233.
F19 Journey from Aleppo p. 102.

2 Kings 23:13 In-Context

11 And he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.

12 And the altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manas'seh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, he pulled down and broke in pieces, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.

13 And the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ash'toreth the abomination of the Sido'nians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

14 And he broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Ashe'rim, and filled their places with the bones of men

15 Moreover the altar at Bethel, the high place erected by Jerobo'am the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, that altar with the high place he pulled down and he broke in pieces its stones, crushing them to dust; also he burned the Ashe'rah.