Micah 5:13

"And I will cut off thy graven images and thy pillars; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands."

This was particularly and immediately fulfilled upon the return of Israel from Babylonian captivity. Never again did Israel fall into the shameless idolatry of Samaria as in the days before their deportation. The passage also has a wider application in that it is descriptive of the general attitude among Christians of all ages.

"Thy graven images and thy pillars ..." The pillars were usually ornamental pedestals suitable for the erection of an idol upon them; but, in time, the pillar itself was venerated, becoming something of a phallic symbol in the fertility rites of Canaanite paganism, into which gross abuses the Israelites were drawn. Deane pointed out that, "A pillar to make a place consecrated to the Lord was allowed (Genesis 28:18); it was when this custom degenerated into idolatry that it was sternly denounced."[18]