For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
He rebuilt the worship sites on hilltops that his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars for the false god Baal and made sacred poles for idol worship, just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He also worshipped and served all the stars and heavenly bodies.
This verse describes how King Manasseh completely reversed his godly father's reforms by rebuilding all the places of false worship that had been destroyed.
📚 Historical Context
This refers to King Manasseh of Judah, who ruled from 697-642 BC and was the son of the righteous King Hezekiah. While Hezekiah had led major religious reforms and destroyed pagan worship sites, Manasseh undid all his father's good work. The 'high places' were hilltop shrines where people worshipped false gods, and Baal was a Canaanite fertility god whose worship often included immoral practices.
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