2 Kings 21:3

21:3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky¹ and worshiped² them.

2 Kings 21:7

21:7 He put an idol of Asherah he had made in the temple, about which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home.³

2 Kings 21:2

21:2 He did evil in the sight of⁴ the Lord and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations⁵ whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites.

2 Kings 1:3

2 Kings 1:7

1:7 The king⁷ asked them, “Describe the appearance⁸ of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.”

2 Kings 1:3-4

1:3 But the Lord’s angelic messenger told Elijah the Tishbite, “Get up, go to meet the messengers from the king of Samaria. Say this to them: ‘You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are on your way to seek an oracle from Baal Zebub the god of Ekron.⁹ 1:4 Therefore this is what the Lord says, “You will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die!”’” So Elijah went on his way.

¹sn See the note at 2 Kgs 17:16.

²tn Or “served.”

³tn Heb “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I chose from all the tribes of Israel, I will place my name perpetually (or perhaps “forever”).”

⁴tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

⁵tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”

⁶tn Heb “Is it because there is no God in Israel [that] you are going to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?” The translation seeks to bring out the sarcastic tone of the rhetorical question.

⁷tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸tn Heb “What was the manner…?”

⁹tn Heb “Is it because there is no God in Israel [that] you are going to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?” The translation seeks to bring out the sarcastic tone of the rhetorical question.