⁵ He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had peace and no war was waged against him during these years, because the Lord had given him rest.

^3 (A)In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a youth, he began to seek after the God of David his father. Then in his twelfth year^[a] he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the asherahs, and the carved and molten images. ⁴ In his presence, the altars of the Baals were torn down; the incense stands erected above them he broke down; the asherahs and the carved and molten images he smashed and beat into dust, which he scattered over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them;

⁷ he tore down the altars and asherahs, and the carved images he beat into dust, and broke down the incense stands throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

³ You shall say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys:^(A) Pay attention! I am bringing a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.^{[a] 4} Your altars shall be laid waste, your incense stands smashed, and I will throw your slain down in front of your idols. ⁵ Yes, I will lay the corpses of the Israelites in front of their idols, and scatter your bones around your altars.^{[b](B) 6} Wherever you live, cities shall be ruined and high places laid waste, in order that your altars be laid waste and devastated, your idols broken and smashed, your incense altars hacked to pieces, and whatever you have made wiped out.^(C)