(A)He did evil in the sight of the Lord, (B)in accordance with the abominations of the nations whom the Lord [a]dispossessed before the sons of Israel. For (C)he rebuilt the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed; and (D)he erected altars for Baal and made an [b]Asherah, just as Ahab king of Israel had done, and he (E)worshiped all the heavenly [c]lights and served them. And (F)he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “(G)In Jerusalem I will put My name.” He built altars for (H)all the heavenly [d]lights in (I)the two courtyards of the house of the Lord. And (J)he made his son pass through the fire, (K)interpreted signs, practiced divination, and used mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger. Then (L)he put the carved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “(M)In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 21:2 Or drove out
  2. 2 Kings 21:3 I.e., a wooden symbol of a female deity
  3. 2 Kings 21:3 Lit host
  4. 2 Kings 21:5 Lit host

He did evil(A) in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices(B) of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places(C) his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal(D) and made an Asherah pole,(E) as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts(F) and worshiped them. He built altars(G) in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.”(H) In the two courts(I) of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son(J) in the fire, practiced divination,(K) sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists.(L) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing(M) his anger.

He took the carved Asherah pole(N) he had made and put it in the temple,(O) of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name(P) forever.

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