Leviticus 18:21

_AND THOU SHALT NOT LET ANY OF THY SEED PASS THROUGH THE FIRE TO MOLECH, NEITHER SHALT THOU PROFANE THE NAME OF THY GOD: I AM THE LORD._ Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass ... Molech, or Moloch, which signifies 'king,' was the idol of the Ammonites. His proper name was Chemosh. His Egyptian correspondent, or rather substitute, was Amun, or Amun-Ra х_ MOLEK_ (H4432)], 'the king of the gods' (Corbaux). His statue was of brass, and rested on a pedestal or throne of the same metal. His head, resembling that of a calf, was adorned with a crown, and his arms were extended in the attitude of embracing those who approached him. His devotees dedicated their children to him; and when this was to be done, they heated the statue to a high pitch of intensity by a fire within; and then the infants were either shaken over the flames or passed through the ignited arms-a symbolical rite expressive...

18:21._Thou shalt not let any of thy seed. _In these three precepts Moses more lightly touches on what we have lately seen set forth at greater length in Deuteronomy; for there he condemns impious offerings, as well as the responses of familiar spirits, magical arts, and enchantments. He now in the first place adverts to adulterous sacrifices, especially to that impure and detestable service of consecrating their children to Moloch, as they called him, the idol of the Gentiles; and then adds a prohibition, that they should give no heed to false revelations. But in these two passages of Leviticus he only enumerates two classes, (304) viz., to use auguries and divinations, and to seek responses from familiar spirits, and to consult magicians or enchanters; yet he includes all the others of which we have previously spoken. And, lest they should think the crime a light one, he says that all...

Verse Leviticus 18:21. _PASS THROUGH_ THE FIRE _TO MOLECH_] The name of this idol is mentioned for the first time in this place. As the word מלח _molech_ or _melech_ signifies _king_ or _governor_, it is very likely that this idol represented the _sun_; and more particularly as the _fire_ appears to have been so much employed in his worship. There are several opinions concerning the meaning of _passing through the fire_ to Molech. 1. Some think that the _semen humanum_ was offered on the fire to this idol. 2. Others think that the children were actually made a _burnt-offering_ to him. 3. But others suppose the children were not _burnt_, but only passed through the fire, or _between two fires_, by way of consecration to him. That some were _actually burnt alive_ to t

MOLECH - See the note at Leviticus 20:2....

PART III. SECTION III. EXPOSITION MORAL UNCLEANNESS AND ITS PUNISHMENT. This being the subject of the three following chapters (chapters 18-20), they naturally form a sequence to chapters 11-17, which have dealt with ceremonial uncleanness and its purification. It is a remarkable thing that, except by implication in connection with the sin offerings and the trespass offerings and the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, there has not yet been a single moral precept, as such, in the Book of Leviticus, and there has been very little recognition of sin as distinct from pollution. All has been ceremonial. But the ceremonial is typical of the moral, and from the consideration of ceremonial uncleanness and its remedy, we now proceed to the consideration of moral uncleanness and its penalty. It is to be noticed

AND THOU SHALT NOT LET ANY OF THY SEED PASS THROUGH [THE FIRE] TO MOLECH,.... The name of an image or idol, according to Aben Ezra, who observes, that their wise men interpret it as a general name for everyone whom they made to reign over them; and it is right, he says, that it is the abomination of the children of Ammon, and so the same with Milcom, 1 Kings 11:5; and with Baal, as appears from Jeremiah 32:35; and they are both of much the same signification, the one signifies a king, the other a lord; and perhaps is the same with the Melicarthus of Sanchoniatho y, who is also Hercules; to whom Pliny says z that the Phoenicians offered human sacrifices every year: of Molech, Jeremiah 7:31...

MOLECH Called Moloch. (Acts 7:43)....

V. PRACTICAL HOLINESS IN DAILY LIFE 1. Different Unholy Relationships CHAPTER 18 _ 1. Separation and obedience (Leviticus 18:1)_ 2. Unholy relationships (Leviticus 18:6) 3. Vile and abominable practices (Leviticus 18:19) 4. Judgment threatened (Leviticus 18:24) This section of Leviticus contains the words of Jehovah addressed to His people, whom He had redeemed and in whose midst He dwelt. They are to be a holy people. About thirty times in this section we find the solemn word “I am Jehovah. Ye shall be holy: for I, Jehovah your God, am holy.” This is Jehovah's cal

APPENDICES. The grouping of offences is noteworthy, and the presence of Leviticus 18:21 (perhaps not original) with the rest. For Leviticus 18:19, see on Leviticus 15:24, and _cf._ Ezekiel 18:6. For Leviticus 18:20, _cf._ Exodus 20:14. If the characteristic words to defile thyself, were taken seriously, they would revolutionise the still prevailing moral estimates of sexual sins. For the custom of the ceremonial passing of children through th

SEED. children. PASS THROUGH, &C. Hebrew "pass to Molech", i.e. into his arms, from which it passed through the fire to him. MOLECH. Always has the article (except 1 Kings 11:7, which is probably. copyist's omission) denoting _the_ king, or the king-idol (see Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 20:4; Leviticus 20:5. See _seq._...