Deuteronomy 12:3

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

Cross-reference

Deuteronomy 7:5 gives nearly identical instructions for destroying Canaanite religious objects — reinforcing this command.

Deuteronomy 7:25 expands on burning images and warns against taking their metal — supporting the destruction command.

2 Kings 18:4 Historical context

2 Kings 18:4 records Hezekiah removing high places, breaking pillars, and cutting down Asherah — directly echoing Deuteronomy 12:3.

Micah 5:14 Allusion

In Micah 5:14, God promises to root out Asherim Himself, echoing the command but with divine action.

In Jeremiah 17:2, Israel remembers their altars and Asherim instead of destroying them, contrasting the command.

In 2 Chronicles 34:3, Josiah purges high places and Asherim, continuing the pattern of obedience.

2 Chronicles 31:1 Historical context

2 Chronicles 31:1 records Hezekiah tearing down pillars, Asherim, high places, and altars — acting on the command in Deuteronomy 12:3.

In 2 Chronicles 19:3, Jehoshaphat is commended for removing Asheroth, directly applying this command.

2 Chronicles 14:3 Historical context

In 2 Chronicles 14:3, Asa enacts this same destruction of foreign altars and pillars, showing faithful kings obeyed.

2 Kings 23:14 Historical context

In 2 Kings 23:14, Josiah literally obeys this command by destroying altars and Asherim, fulfilling the law's requirement.

1 Kings 15:13 Historical context

1 Kings 15:13 describes Asa cutting down and burning his mother's Asherah image, fulfilling the command in Deuteronomy 12:3 to burn Asherim.

Judges 2:2 Allusion

Judges 2:2 recalls the command to break down altars from Deuteronomy 12:3 and then notes Israel's disobedience.

Numbers 33:52 gives a parallel command to destroy figured stones, metal images, and high places — reinforcing Deuteronomy 12:3.

Exodus 23:24 commands overthrowing and breaking images — directly parallel to the destruction command here.

2 Kings 17:10 recounts Israel setting up images and groves — directly violating the command here to destroy them.

2 Kings 11:18 Historical context

2 Kings 11:18 records the people destroying Baal's altars and images — a faithful execution of this command.

2 Chronicles 23:17 Historical context

2 Chronicles 23:17 also records destroying Baal's altars and images — an act of obedience to this command.

In 2 Chronicles 28:4, Ahaz does the opposite of this command — he worships on high places and under trees, the very practices Israel was to destroy.

Exodus 34:13 repeats the command to destroy altars, images, and groves — a close parallel.