Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

2 CHRONICLES 32:12KJV
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2 Chronicles 32:12 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 32:12 mean?

2 Chronicles 32:12 records a challenge made against King Hezekiah, questioning whether he did the right thing by removing the high places and altars throughout Judah and Jerusalem and commanding the people to worship at only one altar. The verse highlights criticism of Hezekiah’s religious reforms, suggesting that his actions might have limited the people’s ways of worship.

This verse is spoken by the Assyrian officials as they try to undermine the confidence of the people of Jerusalem during King Sennacherib’s invasion. The officials are pointing out that Hezekiah took away traditional places of worship (the high places and altars) and insisted on worship at the temple in Jerusalem only, possibly to make the people doubt Hezekiah’s leadership and God’s favor.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 32:12

  • "High places" (בָּמוֹת, bamot): These were local shrines or worship sites scattered throughout the land. The Assyrian spokesman refers to Hezekiah removing these, which was actually in line with the biblical command to centralize worship in Jerusalem.
  • "Worship" (שָׁחָה, shachah): This word means to bow down or pay homage. The verse emphasizes that Hezekiah directed all worship to occur at one place, the temple, rather than at many local sites.
  • "Incense" (קָטַר, qatar): Burning incense was a key part of worship. The verse notes that Hezekiah restricted this practice to the temple altar, not at the high places.

Why 2 Chronicles 32:12 matters

  • This verse shows how Hezekiah’s reforms, which were meant to bring Judah back to proper worship, could be twisted by outsiders to create doubt and fear among the people.
  • It reveals the tension between traditional religious practices (worship at many altars) and the biblical command to worship at the temple in Jerusalem only.
  • The verse connects to the wider story of Sennacherib’s siege, showing the psychological tactics used by the Assyrians to weaken Jerusalem’s resolve by questioning their king’s faithfulness and decisions.

Where else these words appear

“Hezekiah” Hebrew H3169 · used in 42 verses

  • 2 Kings 20:10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
  • 2 Chronicles 31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.

“places” Hebrew H1116 · used in 92 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • 2 Kings 15:35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

“incense” Hebrew H6999 · used in 112 verses

  • Exodus 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
  • Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
  • 2 Chronicles 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.