Lev 18:21-30, 20:2-5, Deu 12:31, 2Ki 16:3, 17:17, 21:6, 2Ch 28:3 | 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 18:21-30

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

20:13; Ge 19:5; Jud 19:22; 1Ki 14:24; Ro 1:26,27; 1Co 6:9; 1Ti 1:10

Jude 1:7

any beast.

20:15,16; Ex 22:19

confusion.

20:12

Defile.

6-23,30; Jer 44:4; Mt 15:18-20; Mr 7:10-23; 1Co 3:17

for.

20:22,23; De 12:31; 18:12

the land.

Nu 35:33,34; Ps 106:38; Isa 24:5; Jer 2:7; 16:18; Eze 36:17,18

Ro 8:22

therefore.

Ps 89:32; Isa 26:21; Jer 5:9,29; 9:9; 14:10; 23:2; Ho 2:13; 8:13; 9:9

vomiteth.

28; 20:22

keep.

5,30; De 4:1,2,40; 12:32; Ps 105:44,45; Lu 8:15; 11:28

Joh 14:15,21-23; 15:14

nor any stranger.

17:8,10

24; De 20:18; 23:18; 25:16; 27:15; 1Ki 14:24; 2Ki 16:3; 21:2

2Ch 36:14; Eze 16:50; 22:11; Ho 9:10

25; 20:22; Jer 9:19; Eze 36:13,17; Ro 8:22; Re 3:16

17:10; 20:6

See on

Ex 12:15

abominable.

3,26,27; 20:23; De 18:9-12

that ye defile.

I am.

2,4

Leviticus 20:2-5

Whosoever.

17:8,13,15

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

Ac 7:43

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

I will set.

17:10; 1Pe 3:12

to defile.

Nu 19:20; Eze 5:11; 23:38,39

profane.

18:21; Eze 20:39; 2Co 6:16

hide.

Ac 17:30

and kill.

De 13:8; 17:2-5; Jos 7:12; 1Sa 3:13,14; 1Ki 20:42; Re 2:14

I will.

17:10

against his.

Ex 20:5; Jer 32:28-35,39

whoring.

17:7; Ps 106:39; Jer 3:2; Ho 2:5,13

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