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 sky ¹  and worshiped ²  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 of ⁴  the Lord and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations ⁵  whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites.

2 Kings 1:3

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. ⁶ 

2 Kings 1:7

1:7 The king ⁷  asked them, “Describe the appearance ⁸  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.

[21:3]  ¹ sn See the note at 2 Kgs 17:16.

[21:3]  ² tn Or “served.”

[21:7]  ³ tn 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”).”

[21:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[21:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”

[1:3]  ⁶ tn 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.

[1:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “What was the manner…?”

[1:3]  ⁹ tn 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.