Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.
He also destroyed the altar at Bethel and the worship site that Jeroboam son of Nebat had built, the same Jeroboam who led Israel into sin. He tore down both the altar and the worship site, burned it, ground it into powder, and burned the sacred pole.
The writer is describing how King Josiah completely destroyed the false worship places that had led Israel away from God for generations.
📚 Historical Context
In the history of Israel, King Jeroboam established an altar at Bethel as part of his efforts to create rival worship sites, leading the northern kingdom into idolatry and away from the true worship in Jerusalem. Centuries later, during King Josiah's reign in Judah, the nation rediscovered the Book of the Law, prompting Josiah to launch widespread reforms against pagan practices. As part of these efforts, Josiah specifically targeted and destroyed the altar and high place at Bethel that Jeroboam had built.
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