temples, and the MS. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So also the Syriack here renders it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Idols chap∣pels or smaller temples.) Those may all well be comprehended under the name of high places, viz. the hills or eminent places on which they built chappels and altars to their Idols, and there worshipped them. So Pi∣scator puts them together, luci & altaria in excelsis collibus posita, the groves and altars placed on high hills, and so Zanchi, nomine Bamoth veniunt altaria & sacella, and that not only in Bethel but Dan also. These are called the high places of Aven, by
which name is probable, and by most thought, to be meant the same that by Bethaven, v. 5. and c. 4.15. and by both, as the Chal∣dee paraphrast hath, Bethel, which being by reason of the great wickedness there com∣mitted, so unworthy of its first name, the house of God, is in contempt, first called the house of iniquity, and now iniquity it self in the abstract, this being the signification of Aven. The author of the Vulgar Latin takes it for the idol it self, rendring it ex∣celsa idoli, which the Doway gives in En∣glish harsh enough the excelses of the idol: and indeed it well deserves so to be called in the worst signification that Aven can have. Take it how you will, the matter will be still the same.
These high places of Aven have this as an epithet bestowed upon them, that they are the sin of Israel; both the places and the things there having been occasion of sin to them, and deserving that note which God set upon them when Jeroboam first erected them, that they became a sin, 1 Kin. 12.30. even to all Israel, which is here, though not there, expressed, and on him for erecting them was this brand set, that he did sin, and made Israel to sin, there c. 14.16. What for this sin God threatned to them from the begin∣ning, in that and the preceding verse is, now, it appears, coming upon them, and of those things which then and ever since they made occasion to themselves of sinning, it is said, that they shall be destroyed, yea 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nishmedu, they have been destroyed, as certainly as if already. Those places accoun∣ted sacred by them and frequented with great devotion, and no doubt kept beautifed and adorned, shall now be so neglected, laid so wast and desolate, that the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars them∣selves: an expression denoting certainly that they were now altogether neglected and made no use of. The like have we above c. 9.6. where to express the desolation of the places spoken of, it is said, That net∣tles shall possess them and thorns be in them, as elsewhere also words to the same pur∣pose though not precisely the same, yet all tending to the same end, are used, as we have there observed. And this desolation of the places and things therein cannot but at once give us to conceive some great evil to the people themselves also. For had they been in that condition in which they for∣merly were, when they increased altars and made goodly images (as v. 1.) those zealots in Idolatry would not have been so neglect∣ful as to have suffered things so to be; the being of them so must needs argue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as Abarbinel speaks, The want of mens coming thither, either through defect of people, or their being detain∣ed by something extraordinary befalling them.
This we might well conceive though nothing more were said, than this concerning the place; but here is expresty added what concerns those evils which should befall the people, also, and hinder them from frequenting and visit∣ing, as formerly, those high places and altars, and taking such care of them as formerly, viz. such anguish and tribulation as should make them say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall on us. No pleasure shall they have more in going up to those high places; they could rather wish to be buried under them, or any other mountains and hills. Great must be their anguish and per∣plexity of mind, who shall so wish for death rather than life; for no less than that do those words manifestly import. We read that the Israelites upon imminent dangers from the incursion of enemies, made to themselves dens and caves in mountains to hide in, Judg. 6.2. and to such custome respect seems to be had Isa. 2.10. Enter into the rock and hide thee in the dust, and v. 19. &c. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth for fear of the Lord, &c. in which place in the mar∣gin is noted this here as parallel to it, as here, that: and to that custome
some think respect to be had in this proverbial ex∣pression: and Grotius seems to think that which they shall desire to be, latere velin abstru∣sissimis speluncis, that they might be hid in the obscurest caves. But certainly here is more meant than so: even that they might be overwhelmed and crushed to death by the fall of any such things, rather than to live in such misery as is now come on them to the scorn and derision of their enemies, or the like. The like expression is used in the New Testament also, as by Christ Luke 23.30. to describe the misery that the Jews