inner room of the temple … the sacred pillar: Canaanite temples had a recessed area in the wall for a sacred stone image. The temple of Baal in Samaria had a sacred altar to Baal and an Asherah pole, which Jehu's men destroyed. Later, Josiah's purge of Baal worship in Judah involved burning and demolishing the Asherah pole in the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:6).