מלכים ב, פרק י״ד, פסוק ד׳

Changing the ingrained worship habits of a nation proved to be a complex and unfinished challenge. Even as positive changes took place, unauthorized religious practices remained deeply rooted in everyday society.

The central issue was the continued use of private altars scattered across the land, which the authorities had not managed to completely remove. These local sites were not necessarily used for worshipping idols. Instead, the people maintained them as places to offer sacrifices and burn incense to God [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, performing these rituals outside of the officially permitted framework was strictly illegal. Even though the people directed their worship toward Him, their reliance on these private altars kept the nation from achieving complete spiritual order.