מלכים ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ד׳

A major shift occurred in religious life as worship moved away from its sacred center. Religious practices spread far beyond the walls of the Temple and took root in open spaces all over the land. People began offering sacrifices and burning incense in nature, choosing high places, hilltops, and the shade of leafy trees for their rituals.

These widespread ceremonies were not simply an alternative way of serving God. The rituals performed in these natural settings were heavily mixed with foreign practices, blending the worship of God with active participation in idol worship.