and  carried  the  ashes  of  them  unto  Beth-el]  That  the  refuse  of  all
these  objects  of  idolatry  might  be  cast  away  in  the  place  whence  the


vv.  6,  7.]  11.    KINGS,   XXIII.  233

latrous  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  burnt
incense  unto  Baal,  to  the  sun,  and  to  the  moon,  and  to  the
planets,  and  to  all  the  host  of  heaven.  And  he  brought  6
out  the  grove  from  the  house  of  the  Lord,  without  Jerusa-
lem, unto  the  brook  Kidron,  and  burnt  it  at  the  brook
Kidron,  and  stampt  //  small  to  powder,  and  cast  the  powder
thereof  upon  the  graves  of  the  children  of  the  people.     And  7

first  step  was  taken  which  had  led  to  idolatry  among  the  people  of  the.
Lord.
