In the high places. — These are evidently distinguished from “the hills,” two different prepositions being used in the Hebrew as in the English. A bâmâh, or “high-place,” was a local sanctuary, and it appears that a sacred pillar or altar might be called a bâmâh. Mesha king of Moab speaks of his pillar as “this bâmath” (See Note on 2 Kings 1:1.)
Under every green tree. — Comp. 1 Kings 14:23; Hosea 14:8. Thenius says not so much a green as a thick-foliaged and shadow-yielding tree. “They burn incense... under oaks, and poplars, and teil trees, because the shadow thereof is good” (Hosea 4:13).
THE SYRO-EPHRAIMITIC WAR, AND THE INTERVENTION OF TIGLATH PILESER. (Comp. Isaiah 7:1 to Isaiah 9:7, “an epitome of the discourses delivered by the prophet at this great national crisis.” — Cheyne.)