Sacrificial bed
Isaiah charges that the people of Judah ascend mountains to sacrifice sacrifices (57:7; lizboach zavach ). That’s normal: Every ancient people ascended toward heaven for worship.
The furniture that Judah sets up on the mountain is, however, unusual. They set up a bed , not an altar, on the high place. And there, on that bed, they offer sacrifice.
This is true even in the temple, where Judah offers sacrifice at the “communion site” or altar, where Judah offers God’s bread as “bridal food.” In the temple, worship is intimate communion between Yahweh and His Bride.
Idolatrous sacrifice is portrayed as illicit sex, and public illicit sex at that. When Yahweh looks around the land and sees Judah bringing their sacrifices to idols, He sees a public sex show on every mountain. On every high place, He sees Judah uncovering herself for other men.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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