⁹ The Israelites did secretly against the Lord their God things not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from [lonely] watchtower to [populous] fortified city.

¹⁰ They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim [symbols of the goddess Asherah] on every high hill and under every green tree.

¹¹ There they burned incense on all the high places, as did the nations whom the Lord carried away before them; and they did wicked things provoking the Lord to anger.