Topical Bible: Molech, Moloch or Milcom

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Topical Encyclopedia

Molech, also spelled Moloch or Milcom, is a deity associated with the ancient Near Eastern practice of child sacrifice, particularly among the Ammonites. The worship of Molech is explicitly condemned in the Hebrew Bible, where it is depicted as a grave sin against Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 18:21 : "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD." This verse is part of the Holiness Code, which outlines various laws and ethical standards for the Israelites. The prohibition against sacrificing children to Molech underscores the severity of this practice and its incompatibility with the worship of Yahweh.

2. Leviticus 20:2-5 : "Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him. I Myself will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because he has given his offspring to Molech, defiling My sanctuary and profaning My holy name. And if the people of the land ever hide their eyes from that man when he gives any of his children to Molech, and they fail to put him to death, then I will set My face against that man and his clan. I will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molech.’" This passage emphasizes the communal responsibility to uphold the prohibition and the severe consequences for failing to do so.

3. 2 Kings 23:10 : "He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech." This verse refers to King Josiah's reforms, which included the destruction of sites associated with the worship of Molech, highlighting the ongoing struggle against idolatry in Israel.

4. Jeremiah 32:35 : "They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though I never commanded—nor did it even enter My mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so cause Judah to sin." Here, the prophet Jeremiah condemns the practice as an abomination and a significant factor in Judah's spiritual decline.

5. 1 Kings 11:5, 7 : "Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Molech the abomination of the Ammonites... At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites." These verses recount King Solomon's apostasy, where he erected high places for foreign gods, including Molech, leading to Israel's spiritual corruption.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Molech worship is often associated with the Ammonites, a people who lived east of the Jordan River. The practice of child sacrifice, particularly by fire, was a hallmark of Molech worship and is considered one of the most heinous forms of idolatry in the biblical narrative. The term "Molech" may derive from the Hebrew word "melech," meaning "king," possibly indicating a title rather than a personal name.

The Valley of Ben Hinnom, also known as Gehenna, became infamous as a site for these sacrifices, and its association with fire and judgment carried into later Jewish and Christian eschatological imagery.

Theological Implications:

The worship of Molech represents a direct violation of the first commandment, which prohibits the worship of other gods. It also contravenes the sanctity of life, a core tenet of biblical teaching. The biblical authors use the condemnation of Molech worship to illustrate the dangers of syncretism and the moral and spiritual decay that results from abandoning the covenant with Yahweh.

The biblical narrative consistently portrays the worship of Molech as a significant factor in the downfall of both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, serving as a warning against idolatry and the abandonment of divine commandments.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Molech, Moloch or Milcom

A king, 1 Kings 11:5,7 Acts 7:43; supposed also to be intended by Malcham, or "their king," in Jeremiah 49:1 Am 1:15 Zephaniah 1:5, the name of a heathen deity, worshipped by the Ammonites. The Israelites also introduced the worship of this idol, both during their wanderings in the desert, and after their settlement in Palestine, 2 Kings 23:10 Ezekiel 20:26,31. The principal sacrifices to Moloch were human victims, namely, children who were cast alive into the redhot arms of his statue. See HINNOM. Compare Le 18:21 20:2 De 12:31 Psalm 106:37,38 Jeremiah 7:31 19:2-6 32:35. According to some of these passages, Moloch would seem to be another name for Baal; and we find that the Phoenicians, whose chief god was Baal, and the Carthaginians their colonists, worshipped his image with similar horrid sacrifices, as the Romans did their god Saturn.