1 Kings 11:7

a high place That -high places" were not abolished in Solomon's time we can see from 1 Kings 3:2-3, where see notes. The idea was that on a lofty height the worshipper drew nearer to his god, and so was able to offer a more acceptable sacrifice. Hence the erection of altars on the tops of hills, and these were frequently accompanied with some house or shrine for the image of the god, and hence we read of the -houses of the high places." Cf. 1 Kings 12:31; 1 Kings 13:32; 2Ki 17:29; 2 Kings 17:32; 2 Kings 23:19. This form of worshipping was so firmly rooted among the Israelites that we read of it constantly down to the reign of Josiah, by whom at length it appears to have been put down (2 Kings 23:19).

for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab Chemosh, though generally called the national god of the Moabites, is said (Judges 11:24) to have been also the god of the Ammonites. He is first mentioned in Numbers 21:29. The worship now introduced into Jerusalem by Solomon was put down by Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). There is nothing in any of the Biblical notices to guide us to an opinion either about the meaning of the name or the nature of the worship offered to Chemosh. An ancient Jewish tradition relates that Chemosh was worshipped under the form of a black star, hence some have identified him with Saturn. But this is no more than conjecture. Milton alludes to the identification of Chemosh with Baal-peor:

-Peor his other name, when he enticed

Israel in Sittim on their march from Nile."

Par. L.I. 412.

in the hill thatis before Jerusalem The hill facing Jerusalem is the mount of Olives. It is described in Ezekiel 11:23 as -the mountain which is on the east side of the city," and in Zechariah 14:4 as -the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east." The LXX. (Vat.) has omitted any mention of -the hill before Jerusalem." Milton alludes to the position of these idolatrous erections:

-the wisest heart

Of Solomon he led by fraud to build

His temple right against the temple of God

On that opprobrious hill."

Par. L. I. 400.

The last words allude to a name given to this height in consequence of these buildings, -Mons offensionis." This name is said (Dictionary of Bible, 11. 627) to be of late origin. But the words occur in the Vulgate (2 Kings 23:13) -ad dexteram partem montis offensionis."

and for Molech See above on Milcomin 1 Kings 11:5. The LXX. translates the proper name, and reads καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ. Milton also reminds us that the word could be translated:

-First Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood

Of human sacrifice, and parents" tears

Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud

Their children's cries unheard."

The allusion in the last words is to the name -Tophet," as the valley of the son of Hinnom was called where the Moloch-worship went on. This was thought by some to be derived from the Hebrew word תף (toph) a timbrel. Hence the tradition of drums beaten to drown the cries of the suffering children. There is no warrant for the derivation, nor probably for the tradition. On the whole subject, see Selden, de Dis Syris, p. 172.