Topical Encyclopedia Molech, also spelled Moloch, is a deity associated with the Ammonites, a people who lived east of the Jordan River. The worship of Molech is most infamously characterized by the practice of child sacrifice, a ritual that is strongly condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures. The name "Molech" is often thought to be derived from the Hebrew word "melech," meaning "king," but with the vowels of "bosheth," meaning "shame," indicating the disgraceful nature of this idol worship.Biblical References and Prohibitions The worship of Molech is explicitly prohibited in the Old Testament. In Leviticus 18:21 , the Israelites are commanded, "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 command underscores the severity with which God views the practice, associating it with the profanation of His holy name. Further, in Leviticus 20:2-5 , the LORD instructs Moses to tell the Israelites, "Say to the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The members of the community must 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.’" These passages highlight the gravity of the sin and the communal responsibility to uphold God's commandments by eradicating such practices. Historical Context and Practices The Ammonites, descendants of Lot through his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38), were neighbors and often adversaries of Israel. The worship of Molech, as practiced by the Ammonites and other neighboring cultures, involved rites that were abhorrent to the Israelites. The ritual of child sacrifice, in particular, was a stark contrast to the worship of Yahweh, who abhors such practices. The Valley of Hinnom, or Gehenna, located outside Jerusalem, became notorious as a site where such sacrifices were made. This location later became a symbol of divine judgment and hell in Jewish and Christian thought. Influence on Israel Despite the clear prohibitions, the worship of Molech infiltrated Israelite society at various times, particularly during periods of spiritual decline. King Solomon, influenced by his foreign wives, built high places for Molech on the Mount of Olives (1 Kings 11:7), leading to God's anger and the eventual division of the kingdom. Later, King Ahaz and King Manasseh of Judah also engaged in such practices, as recorded in 2 Kings 16:3 and 2 Kings 21:6 , respectively. However, reforming kings such as Josiah took decisive action against the worship of Molech. In 2 Kings 23:10 , it is recorded that Josiah "desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech." Theological Implications The worship of Molech represents a profound theological and moral deviation from the worship of Yahweh. It underscores the tension between the Israelites' call to be a holy people and the persistent temptation to adopt the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. The biblical narrative consistently portrays the worship of Molech as a violation of the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the exclusive worship due to Yahweh alone. Nave's Topical Index Acts 7:43Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Nave's Topical Index Library Pride of Prosperity Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ... Resources What is an abomination? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to worship the starry host or the host of the heavens (Zephaniah 1:5)? | GotQuestions.org Who is the Queen of Heaven? | GotQuestions.org Molech: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
    |