(33) For . . . hearts.--And the people had not yet directed their heart. This language is the chronicler's own (see 2 Chronicles 12:14; 2 Chronicles 19:3), and is substituted for the statement, "The people were still wont to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places" (Kings). They had not yet accepted the principle of the one Temple.
(33) Howbeit the high places were not taken away.--This is no contradiction of 2 Chronicles 17:6, "And further (or again), he took away the high places." There the holy places of heathenism, here those of the illegal worship of Jehovah, appear to be meant.
Verse 33. - Howbeit the high places... the people hadnot prepared. The statements so precisely made in this verse evidently serve the purpose of distinguishing between the wishes and orders of the king and the unequal conduct of his people.
20:31-37 Jehoshaphat kept close to the worship of God, and did what he could to keep his people close to it. But after God had done such great things for him, given him not only victory, but wealth; after this, to go and join himself with a wicked king, was very ungrateful. What could he expect but that God would be angry with him? Yet it seems, he took the warning; for when Ahaziah afterward pressed him to join him, he would not, 1Ki 22:49. Thus the alliance was broken, and the Divine rebuke had its effect, at least for a season. Let us be thankful for any losses which may have prevented the loss of our immortal souls. Let us praise the Lord, who sought after us, and left us not to perish in our sins.
Howbeit, the high places were not taken away,.... The high places, where idols were worshipped, were taken away, 2 Chronicles 17:6, but not those where sacrifices were offered to the true God:
for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers; to seek and serve him wholly, according to his will, to offer sacrifices to him only at Jerusalem, as the law required, Deuteronomy 12:5, they could not as yet be prevailed upon to relinquish the high places, built and made use of before the temple was; partly because they were nearer to some of them than that, and partly out of veneration for them, as being of a long time used.
(33) Howbeit the high places were not taken away.--This is no contradiction of 2 Chronicles 17:6, "And further (or again), he took away the high places." There the holy places of heathenism, here those of the illegal worship of Jehovah, appear to be meant.
for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers; to seek and serve him wholly, according to his will, to offer sacrifices to him only at Jerusalem, as the law required, Deuteronomy 12:5, they could not as yet be prevailed upon to relinquish the high places, built and made use of before the temple was; partly because they were nearer to some of them than that, and partly out of veneration for them, as being of a long time used.