Lev 20:2, Deu 12:31, 18:10, 2Ki 16:3, 21:6, 23:10, Psa 106:37-38, Jer 7:31 | TSK | STEP | Whosoever. giveth. Moloch. Molech.The Rabbins describe this idol as made of brass sitting upon a throne of the same metal, in the form of a man, with the head of a calf, adorned with a royal crown, and his arms extended as if to embrace any one. When they offered any children to him, they heated the statue by a great fire kindled within, and the victim was put into his arms, and thus consumed. Others relate, that the idol, which was hollow, was divided into seven compartments within; in one of which they put flour, in the second turtles, in the third a ewe, in the fourth a ram, in the fifth a calf, in the sixth an ox, and the seventh a child; which were all burnt together by heating the statue inside. The account which Diodorus (l. xx.) gives of the statue of Saturn, to which the Carthaginians, descendants of the Canaanites, sacrificed their children, is very similar. For they had a brazen stature of Saturn, stretching out his hands towards the ground, in such a manner that the children placed within them tumbled down into a pit full of fire. To this account Milton alludes, in Paradise Lost, B. 1. 392. the people.

Leviticus 20:2

Whosoever.

giveth.

18:21; De 12:31; 18:10; 2Ki 17:17; 23:10; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6; Ps 106:38

Isa 57:5,6; Jer 7:31; 32:35; Eze 16:20,21; 20:26,31; 23:37,39

Moloch. Molech.The Rabbins describe this idol as made of brass sitting upon a throne of the same metal, in the form of a man, with the head of a calf, adorned with a royal crown, and his arms extended as if to embrace any one. When they offered any children to him, they heated the statue by a great fire kindled within, and the victim was put into his arms, and thus consumed. Others relate, that the idol, which was hollow, was divided into seven compartments within; in one of which they put flour, in the second turtles, in the third a ewe, in the fourth a ram, in the fifth a calf, in the sixth an ox, and the seventh a child; which were all burnt together by heating the statue inside. The account which Diodorus (l. xx.) gives of the statue of Saturn, to which the Carthaginians, descendants of the Canaanites, sacrificed their children, is very similar. For they had a brazen stature of Saturn, stretching out his hands towards the ground, in such a manner that the children placed within them tumbled down into a pit full of fire. To this account Milton alludes, in Paradise Lost, B. 1. 392.

the people.

27; 24:14,23; Nu 15:35,36; De 13:10,11; 17:5-7; 21:21; Ac 7:58,59

Deuteronomy 12:31

Thou.

4; 18:9; Ex 23:2; Le 18:3,26-30; 2Ki 17:15-17; 21:2; 2Ch 33:2

2Ch 36:14

abomination to the. Heb. abomination of the. even theirsons. The unnatural and horrid practice of offering human sacrifices not only existed, but universally prevailed among ancient nations. We have already (Note on Lev 20:2) referred to the custom among the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, descendants from the Canaanitish nations, of sacrificing their children to Moloch, or Saturn; and we will now cite a passage from Diodorus Siculus, (lib. xx.) which immediately precedes that already produced relative to this barbarous custom. He states that the Carthaginians imputed their being besieged by Agathocles to the anger of Saturn, because, instead of sacrificing the best of their own children, as formerly, they had sacrificed children bought for that purpose. "In haste, therefore, to rectify their errors, they chose 200 of the noblest children, and publicly sacrificed them! Others, accused of irreligion, voluntarily gave themselves up, to the number of no less than 300!"

18:10; Le 18:21; 20:2; Jer 7:31; 32:35; Eze 20:31; 23:27; Mic 6:7

Deuteronomy 18:10

maketh.

12:31; Le 18:21-30; 20:2-5; 2Ki 16:3; 17:17; 21:6; 2Ch 28:3

Ps 106:37,38; Jer 19:4-6; 32:35

that useth divination.The precise import of the terms here used to express these unhallowed practices cannot be clearly ascertained: he that useth divination, {kosaim, kesamim,} seems a general term for the various species after specified; observer of times, {meonain,} one who pretends to foretell by the clouds, planets, etc.; enchanter {menachesh,} a diviner, either by means of serpents, or by inspecting the entrails of beasts, the flight of birds, etc.; a witch, {mecashsheph,} one who used magical fumigations, etc.; a charmer, {chover chaver,} one who uses spells, or a peculiar conjunction of words, or tying knots, etc.; a consulter with familiar spirits, {shoel ov,} a pythoness; a wizard, {yidoni,} a cunning man; necromancer, {doresh el hammaithim} one who seeks enquiries of the dead.

Ex 22:18; Le 19:26,31; 20:26,27; 1Sa 28:3,7,9; 1Ch 10:13; 2Ch 33:6

Isa 8:19,20; 47:13; Ac 19:19; Ga 5:20

2 Kings 16:3

he walked.

8:18; 1Ki 12:28-30; 16:31-33; 21:25,26; 22:52,53; 2Ch 22:3; 28:2-4

made his son.

17:17; 23:10; Le 18:21; 20:2; De 12:31; 18:10; 2Ch 33:6; Ps 106:37

Ps 106:38; Jer 32:35; Eze 16:21; 20:26,31

according.

21:2,11; De 12:31; 1Ki 14:24; 2Ch 33:2; Ps 106:35; Eze 16:47

2 Kings 21:6

A.M. 3321. B.C. 683. he made.

16:3; 17:17; Le 18:21; 20:2,3; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6; Mic 6:7

observed times.

Le 19:26,31; De 18:10-14

familiar.

1Ch 10:13; Isa 8:19; 19:3; Ac 16:16

wrought.

24:3,4; Ge 13:13

2 Kings 23:10

Topheth.

Isa 30:33; Jer 7:31,32; 19:6,11-13

Tophet. the valley.

Jos 15:8; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6; Jer 19:2; 32:35; Mt 5:22; *Gr:

might make.

16:3; 17:17; 21:6; Le 18:21; De 18:10; Jer 32:35; Eze 16:21; 20:26,31

Eze 23:37-39

Psalms 106:37-38

they sacrificed.However unnatural and horrid human sacrifices may appear, it is certain, that they did not only exist, but almost universally prevailed in the heathen world, especially among the Canaanites and Phoenicians.

De 12:30,31; 18:10; 2Ki 16:3; 17:17; 21:6; Isa 57:5; Jer 7:31; 32:35

Eze 16:20,21; 20:26; 23:37,47

devils.

Le 17:7; De 32:17; 2Ch 11:15; 1Co 10:20; Ro 9:20

shed.

De 21:9; 2Ki 21:16; 24:4; Jer 2:34

the land.

Nu 35:33; Isa 1:15; 26:21; Eze 7:23; 22:3

Jeremiah 7:31

the high.

19:5,6; 32:35; 2Ki 23:20; 2Ch 33:6

the valley.

19:2; Jos 15:8; 2Ch 28:3

to burn.

De 12:31; 2Ki 17:17; Ps 106:37,38; Eze 16:20

which I.

Le 18:21; 20:1-5; De 17:3

came it into. Heb. came it upon.