2nd Kings Chapter 23 verse 7 Holy Bible
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
read chapter 23 in ASV
And he had the houses pulled down of those who were used for sex purposes in the house of the Lord, where women were making robes for the Asherah.
read chapter 23 in BBE
And he broke down the houses of the sodomites, which were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove tents for the Asherah.
read chapter 23 in DARBY
And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
read chapter 23 in KJV
And he broke down the houses of the sodomites that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
read chapter 23 in WBT
He broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Yahweh, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
read chapter 23 in WEB
And he breaketh down the houses of the whoremongers that `are' in the house of Jehovah, where the women are weaving houses for the shrine.
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 7. - And he brake down the houses of the sodomites; literally, of the consecrated ones. (See the comment on 1 Kings 14:24; and note that the male prostitutes, or Galli, who consecrated themselves to the Des Syra, formed an essential element in the Astarte-worship, and accompanied it wherever it was introduced.) Dollinger says ('Jew and Gentile,' vol. 1. pp. 430, 431) of these wretched persons, "To the exciting din of drums, flutes, and inspired songs, the Galli cut themselves on the arms; and the effect of this act, and of the music accompanying it, was so strong upon mere spectators, that all their bodily and mental powers were thrown into a tumult of excitement, and they too, seized by the desire to lacerate themselves, deprived themselves of their manhood by means of potsherds lying ready for the purpose. Thereupon they ran with the mutilated part through the city, and received from the houses which they threw them into, a woman's gear. Not chastity, but barrenness, was intended by the mutilation. In this the Galli only desired to be like their goddess. The relation of foul lust, which they thenceforward occupied towards women, was regarded as a holy thing, and was tolerated by husbands in their wives." That were by the house of the Lord. The near vicinity is an indication that the Galli took part in the foreign rites introduced into the temple by Manasseh and Amon. The awful profanation of the house of God by such orgies is too terrible to dwell on. Where the women wove hangings for the grove. "The women" are no doubt the priestesses of the Dea Syra, who are constantly mentioned with the Galli, and, indeed, lived with them. They employed themselves, among other occupations, in weaving "hangings" (literally, "houses," i.e. "coverings") for the Asherah. It may be gathered from Ezekiel 16:16 that these "coverings" were dainty fabrics of many colors.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) The houses . . . by the house.--The cabins of the Ked?shim . . . in the house. The Ked?shim were males, perhaps eunuchs, who prostituted themselves like women in honour of the Asherah. (See 1Kings 14:24; 1Kings 15:12; Hosea 4:14.) The passage shows that the last infamy of Canaanite nature-worship had been established in the very sanctuary of Jehovah. The revolt of Judah could go no farther.Where the women wove hangings for the grove.--Wherein the women used to weave tents for the Ash?rah. The word we have rendered cabins and tents is b?ttim, "houses." What is meant in the latter case is not clear. Perhaps the female harlots attached to the Temple wove portable tabernacles or sanctuaries of the goddess for sale to the worshippers; or tents (screens) for their own foul rites may be meant.
