Definition: He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from 2 Kings 18:4. It’s a really important passage about God’s judgment and a shift in focus within the Israelites. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Long ago, Moses made a special idol – a serpent named Nebashhtan – to worship. This idol was incredibly powerful and tempting to the people of Israel. God, seeing their idolatry, decided to remove this dangerous object from their land. What Happened Next: He Removed the High Places: God told Moses to take down all the temples and shrines (the “high places”) that were dedicated to this idol. He Brake the Images: He commanded him to destroy all the images, statues, and carvings of Nebashhtan. He Cut Down the Groves: He instructed him to destroy all the groves or forests where the idol was located. He Broke in Pieces the Brasen Serpent: This is the most shocking part! God said he would destroy the serpent itself – Nebashhtan – completely. It’s like a giant, venomous snake! What Did God Do? Then, God called this event "the day of burning incense." This meant that the people of Israel were forbidden to continue offering incense (a common religious ritual) to the idol. The Result: God decreed that for those days, the Israelites would not offer incense. It was a sign that they had turned away from God and were no longer allowed to worship him in this way. What Does it Mean? This verse is a powerful warning about the dangers of idolatry – worshipping anything other than God. It’s a reminder that true devotion comes from loving and obeying God alone, not idols or images. It emphasizes that God's judgment is swift and deliberate when people stray from his path. In short: God removed a dangerous idol, forbade worship of it, and then destroyed the thing itself to show the Israelites how they needed to change their focus back to him. --- Do you want me to: Explain any specific part in more detail? Connect this verse to a broader theme (like obedience or judgment)?