“I will attack ¹  Judah and all who live in Jerusalem. ²  I will remove ³  from this place every trace of Baal worship, ⁴  as well as the very memory ⁵  of the pagan priests. ⁶ 

The inhabitants ¹  of Samaria will lament ²  over the calf idol ³  of Beth Aven. ⁴  Its people will mourn over it; its idolatrous priests will wail ⁵  over it, ⁶  because its splendor will be taken from them ⁷  into exile.

He eliminated ¹  the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to offer sacrifices ²  on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the area right around Jerusalem. (They offered sacrifices ³  to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations, and all the stars in the sky.)

They mixed in with the nations and learned their ways. ¹ 

I do not associate ¹  with deceitful men, or consort ²  with those who are dishonest. ³ 

They were defiled by their deeds, and unfaithful in their actions. ¹ 

“Son of man, confront Jerusalem ¹  with her abominable practices

They even built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

Indeed, they ¹  will be ashamed of the sacred trees you ²  find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards ³  where you choose to worship.

You must not erect a sacred pillar, ¹  a thing the Lord your God detests.

However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors. ¹ 

He burned the bones of the pagan priests ¹  on their altars; he purified Judah and Jerusalem.

See if there is any idolatrous tendency ¹  in me, and lead me in the reliable ancient path! ² 

You must bear your punishment for your obscene conduct and your abominable practices, declares the Lord.

I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed throughout foreign countries. In accordance with their behavior and their deeds I judged them.

A whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings; they will be brought to shame because of their idolatrous worship. ¹ 

He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved. ¹  (22:44) ²  However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.

I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars, ¹  and I will stack your dead bodies on top of the lifeless bodies of your idols. ²  I will abhor you. ³ 

you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, ¹  and demolish their high places.

Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he ¹  did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.