⁹ The people of Israel did secret things against the Lord their God, which were not right. They also built high places for themselves in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up sacred memorial stones and Asherah poles for themselves upon every high hill and under every leafy tree. ¹¹ They offered sacrifices at all the high places, like the nations that God drove out before them. They did evil things, provoking the Lord to anger.