Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 17:11

"and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom Jehovah carried away before them; and they wrought wicked things to provoke Jehovah to anger;" — 2 Kings 17:11 (ASV)

The burning of incense was a common religious practice among the Egyptians and the Babylonians; and from the present passage, we gather that the Canaanite nations practiced it as one of their ordinary sacred rites. The Israelites are frequently reproached for it (Hosea 2:13; Hosea 4:13; Isaiah 65:3).