| Geneva Study Bible Only the people sacrificed in {b} high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. (b) Where altars were appointed before the temple was built, to offer to the Lord. Wesley's Notes 3:2 Only - This particle is used here, and ver.3, as an exception to Solomon's integrity and as a blemish to his government, That he himself both permitted and practised this which was expressly forbidden, Levit 17:3,4 Deut 12:13,14. High places - Which were groves, or other convenient places upon hills, in which the patriarchs used to offer up their sacrifices to God; and from them this custom was derived both to the Gentiles and the Jews: and in them the Gentiles sacrificed to idols, the Hebrews to the true God. Because, and c. - Which reason was not sufficient, for there was a tabernacle, to which they were as much confined as to the temple, Ex 40:34 - 38, and c. Scofield Reference Notes [1] high places Cf. Lev 26:30 Dt 12:11-14. The use of commanding elevations for altars seems to have been immemorial and universal. In itself the practice was not evil Gen 12:7,8 22:2-4 31:54 Jud 6:25,26 13:16-23. After the establishment of Mount Moriah and the temple as the centre of divine worship Dt 12:5 2Chr 7:12 the pentateuchal prohibition of the use of high places Dt 12:11-14 which had looked forward to the setting up of such a centre, came into effect, and high places became identified with idolatrous practices. The constant recurrence to the use of high places, even for Jehovistic worship See Scofield Note: "1Ki 15:14" and after the building of the temple, proves how deeply rooted the custom was. See 2Ki 18:4-22 23:1-37 2Chr 33:3,17,19 Note below refers to "Groves." See Scofield Note: "Jud 3:7". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 1Ki 3:2-5. High Places Being in Use, He Sacrifices at Gibeon. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 3:1-4 He that loved the Lord, should, for his sake, have fixed his love upon one of the Lord's people. Solomon was a wise man, a rich man, a great man; yet the brightest praise of him, is that which is the character of all the saints, even the poorest, He loved the Lord. Where God sows plentifully, he expects to reap accordingly; and those that truly love God and his worship, will not grudge the expenses of their religion. We must never think that wasted which is laid out in the service of God. | 
