2 Kings 21:3

For he builtup again the high places The R.V. omits -up". On Hezekiah's destruction of the high places, see 2Ch 30:14; 2 Chronicles 31:1.

and he reared up altars for Baal The Chronicler says for -the Baalim", by which is most likely intended the various aspects or attributes under which Baal was worshipped. The LXX. uses the feminine article and says the altars were reared τῇ Βάαλ; which is due to the use of the word בשת bosheth= shame, which is feminine, to avoid the abominated name בעל Baal. The desire to avoid this word is seen in proper names, among which Ishboshethis put for Eshbaal, the name of a son of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:33; 1 Chronicles 9:39), also Mephiboshethis used instead of Meribbaal(cf. 2 Samuel 9:6 with 1 Chronicles 8:34) and Jerubbeshethfor Jerubbaal(cf. Judges 6:32 with 2 Samuel 11:21).

and made a grove R.V. an Asherah. The Chronicler here too uses the plural -Asheroth" (A.V. groves). On Asherah, which was probably a wooden image of a goddess so called, see note on 1 Kings 14:15 and 2 Kings 13:6.

Ahab king of Israel Who first, at the instigation of Jezebel his wife, introduced the worship of Baal and Asherah into Israel from Phœnicia.

worshipped all the host of heaven See note on 2 Kings 17:16.