Definition: And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Kings 23:5. It's a pretty serious passage about something really important in ancient Israel. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God was sending a very strong message to the kings of Judah – the people who lived near Jerusalem – that they were practicing idolatry, which is worshipping other gods instead of the one true God. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And he put down…” - This means God was taking action to stop something bad from happening. “…the idolatrous priests…” – This refers to priests who were serving other gods, especially Baal, a very prominent and dangerous god in ancient Israel. They were burning incense (a ritual offering) to this god, which was seen as disrespectful and a sign of evil. It wasn't just casual worship; it was a deliberate attempt to appease a false god. “…whom the kings of Judah had ordained…” – This tells us that these priests were officially appointed by the rulers of Judah. They were in charge of this kind of worship. “…to burn incense in the high places…” - This means they were building altars (places for worship) and burning incense to Baal. “High places” meant important locations, like city temples. "...in the cities of Judah…” – This specifies where this idolatry was happening – in the cities near Jerusalem. It was a major problem because it was close to where the king and his people lived. "...and in the places round about Jerusalem…” - This emphasizes that the problem wasn’t just one specific place, but a widespread practice throughout Judah. “Them also that burned incense unto Baal…” - This refers to all the priests who were serving this false god. They were continuing the same practice of worshipping another deity. "...to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.” – This is the really shocking part. The kings of Judah had made Baal a god! They were worshipping him as if he were real, and even making him powerful enough to influence the world! They were also associating him with the stars and other celestial bodies - essentially creating a whole pantheon of false gods. In short, this verse is about a serious rebellion against God’s authority and a focus on worshiping something that wasn't true. It was a big problem for the kings of Judah because it threatened their religious order and showed a lack of respect for the one true God. Why is this important? This event is seen as a warning about the dangers of idolatry – worshipping anything other than God. It’s a reminder that true faith comes from following God, not from pleasing false gods. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part in more detail? Connect this verse to other Bible stories or concepts?