The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 403

had ordained to bum ino1mse in the high aeeraled ones. (See the comment on 1 Kinge . places in the oitiea of Judah, and in the plaoea xiv. 24; and note that the male proatitutea, round about Jerusalem. 'fhis practice had or Galli, who consecrated themselves r.o the not been mentioned previously, and can Dea. Byra., formed an essential element in scarcely have belonged to the earlier king- the Astarte-worship, and accompanied it dom of Judah, when "the people" (ne we wherever it we.s introduced.) Dollinger are told so often) "worshipped and burnt says (' Jew and Gentile,' vol. i pp. 430, incense in the high places." But it is quite 431) of these wretched persons, "To the in harmony with the other doings of Ma- exciting din of drums, flutes, and inspired nasseh and Amon, that, when they re-estab- songs, the Galli cut themselves on the arms; lished the high places (eh. xxi. 3, 21), they and the effect of this act, and of the music shoulu have followed the custom of the accompanying it, was so strong upon mere Israelite monarchs at Dan and Bethel (1 spectators, that all their bodily and mental Kings xii. 28-32), and have "ordained powers were thrown into a tumult of excite- priests " to conduct the worship at them. ment, and they too, seized by the desire to Them also that burned inoense Illlto Baal, to lacerate themselves, deprived themselvrs of the silll,and to the moon (on the Baal-worship their manhood by means of potshenls lying of Manasseh and Amon, see eh. xxi. 3 ; on ready for the purpose. Thereupon they the sun-worship, compare below, ver. 11; the mu with the mutilated part through the moon-worship was probably a form of the city, end received from the houses which worship of Asta.rte), and to the planets; they threw them into, a woman's gear. Not rather, to the t1oel1,e signs. The constella- chastity, but barrenness, was intended by tions or signs of the zodiac are, no doubt, the mutilation. In this the Galli only intendecl (comp. Job xxxviii. 32, where the desired to be like their goddess. The term n\i.,c may be regarded as a mere vari- relation of foul lust, which they thence- ant form 'or the n\',ti~ of this passage). The forward occupied towards women, was re- _proper meaning of tho term is "m1msions," garded e.s e. holy thing, and was tolerated or "houses,'' the zodiacal signs being re- by husbands in their wives." That were by _garded as the "mansions of the sun" by the the house of the Lord. The near vicinity 'Babylonians (see' Ancient Monarchies,' vol. is e.n indication that the Galli took part _iii. p. 419). And to all the host of heaven in the foreign rites introduced into the (see the comment on eh. xxi. 3). temple by Manasseh and Amon. The awful Yer. 6.-And he brought out the grove profanation of the house of God by such from the house of the Lord. The Aeherah orgies is too terrible to dwell oa. Where set up by Mn.naseeh ( eh. xxi. 3 and 7), and if the women wove hangings for the grove. removed (2 Ohren. xxxiii. 15), then replaced "The women" are no doubt the prieetessce by Amon (2 Chron. xxxiii. 22), is intended. of the Dea Syra, who are constantly men- (On its probable form, see the comment upon tioned with the Galli, and, indeed, Ii ved oh. xxi. 7.) Without J'e111se.lem, Illlto the with them. They employed themselves, brook Kidron (see the comment on ver. 4), among other occupations, in weaving "hang- and burned it at the brook Kidron. After ings" (literally," houses," i.e. ''coverings") the example of Asa, who had treated in the for the Ashemh. It may be gnthered from same way the idol of the queen-mother Ezek. xvi. 16 that these "coverings" were Maachah (l Kings xv.13). Asa followed the dainty fabrics of many colours. example of Moses (Exod. xxxii. 20), when Ver. 8.-And he brought all the priests he destroyed the golden calf. And ste.mped out of the cities of Judah. Here the writer it small to powder. Metals may be calcined diverges from hie proper subject-the reforms by intense heat, and reduced into a state in in and near Jerusalem-to speak of changes which a very email application of force will which were me.de in other parts of Judrea. orush them into a fine powder. It is clear The Levitical priests, who in various cities from the present passage, that Manaseeh's or Judah had conducted the worship at the Asherah was made of metal, a.t any rate in high places, were summoned to Jerusalem port. And ea.et the powder thereof upon the by Josiah, and forced to remain there, that graves of the ohildren of the people; i.e. the unauthorized ,worship which they h,td "upon the graves of the common people" conducted might be brought to an end. (comp. Jer. xxvi. 23, where the expression And defiled the high places where the pri~ste used in the Hebrew is the same). The had burned inoense. Hezekiah had " ro- common people were not buried, like the moved the high places, unu Lroken the better sort, in rook-hewn sepulchres, but in images, n.nd cut down the groves" thl"Ough- graves of the ordinary description. Burial- out his dominions (oh. xviii. 4). but he hLL<l places were regarded a.a unolenn, and were not in any way ",lefiled the high places; " thus fit receptacles for any kind of impurity. and therefore no sooner did a ki ug take a Ver. 7.-And he brake down the houses different view of his duties than the worship of the aod?mitee; literally, of the con- was at onoe restored (eh. xxi. 3), and  THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [en. xxm. l--87