¹⁶ They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images^(A) for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole.^(B) They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky^(C) and served Baal.^(D)

³ He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed^(A) and reestablished the altars for Baal. He made an Asherah,^(B) as King Ahab of Israel had done;^(C) he also bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky^(D) and served them.

⁵ He built altars to all the stars in the sky^(A) in both courtyards of the Lord’s temple.^(B)

Josiah’s Reforms

⁴ Then the king commanded the high priest Hilkiah^(A) and the priests of the second rank^(B) and the doorkeepers to bring out of the Lord’s sanctuary all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and all the stars in the sky.^(C) He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.^{(D) 5} Then he did away with the idolatrous priests the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense at the high places^(E) in the cities of Judah and in the areas surrounding Jerusalem. They had burned incense to Baal, and to the sun, moon, constellations, and all the stars in the sky.^(F)