Did Asa Remove The High Places?

In 2 Chronicles 15, it states that Asa did not remove the High Places (i.e., a sort of idolatrous shrine); however, in 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 14, it states that he did remove them.

2 Chronicles 15:17

"But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days," (2 Chronicles 15:17 NASB1995).

2 Chronicles 14:1-5

"So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him," (2 Chronicles 14:1-5 NASB1995).

1 Kings 15:14

"But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the Lord all his days," (1 Kings 15:14 NASB1995).

What seems to be the best explanation to this conundrum is that Asa did indeed remove some, but not all of the High Places. As the ESV Study Bible states, the: "High Places were not taken out of Israel probably refers to those cities that previously belonged to the northern kingdom and were then under Asa's control," (Crossway 763, c.f. 629). This is a very likely alternative explanation.

References:

ESV Study Bible. United States, Crossway, 2008

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse