This is in spite of the fact that the people of Judah have as many gods as they have towns and the citizens of Jerusalem have set up as many altars to sacrifice to that disgusting god, Baal, as they have streets in the city!’

In the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.

He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.

He built altars in the Lord’s temple, about which the Lord had said, “Jerusalem will be my permanent home.”

In the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.

Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning!

“Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel’s altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.

Ahaz gathered the items in God’s temple and removed them. He shut the doors of the Lord’s temple and erected altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.

He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them.

He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols and images, crushed them up and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them.