Lev 18:21, Deu 12:28, 31, 2Ki 17:17 | TSK | STEP | pass through.Molech signifies a king, or governor, of similar import with Baâl, lord, or governor; and it is generally supposed that the sun was worshipped under this name; and more particularly as the fire appears to have been so much employed in his worship. It seems clear that children were not only consecrated to him by passing through the fire, which appears to be alluded to here, but that they were actually made a burnt offering to him. (See the parallel passages.) That the several abominations afterwards mentioned were actually practised by many heathen nations is abundantly attested by their own writers. to Molech. Moloch. profane.

Leviticus 18:21

pass through.Molech signifies a king, or governor, of similar import with Baâl, lord, or governor; and it is generally supposed that the sun was worshipped under this name; and more particularly as the fire appears to have been so much employed in his worship. It seems clear that children were not only consecrated to him by passing through the fire, which appears to be alluded to here, but that they were actually made a burnt offering to him. (See the parallel passages.) That the several abominations afterwards mentioned were actually practised by many heathen nations is abundantly attested by their own writers.

20:2; De 12:31; 18:10; 2Ki 16:3; 21:6; 23:10; Ps 106:37,38; Jer 7:31

Jer 19:5; Eze 20:31; 23:37

to Molech.

1Ki 11:7,33; Am 5:26; Ac 7:43

Moloch.

profane.

19:12; 20:2-5; 21:6; 22:2,32; Eze 36:20-23; Mal 1:12; Ro 1:23; 2:24

Deuteronomy 12:28

Observe.

24:8

See on

Ex 34:11; Le 19:37; 2Ch 7:17; Ne 1:5; Ps 105:45; Eze 37:24

Joh 15:3,10,14

that it may.

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

2 Kings 17:17

they caused.

16:3; 21:6; Le 18:21; 2Ch 28:3; Ps 106:37,38; Eze 20:26,31

Eze 23:37,39

used.

21:6; De 18:10-12; 2Ch 33:6; Isa 8:19; 47:9,12,13; Jer 27:9

Mic 5:12; Ac 16:16; Ga 5:26

sold.

1Ki 21:20,25; Isa 50:1

in the sight.

11; 21:6