Difference between revisions of "Moloch"

<p> (&nbsp;Jeremiah 49:1 MOLOCH or '''''Melech''''' , "king" of the people. Malcham, &nbsp;Amos 5:26, Milcom, &nbsp;1 Kings 11:5; &nbsp;1 Kings 11:7, though originally the same as Moloch, assumed a modified character in time.) (See [[Malcham]] ; MILCOM.) Ammon's god, related to Moab's god '''''Chemosh''''' . The "fire god", worshipped with human sacrifices, purifications, and ordeals by fire, habitually, as other idols were occasionally; also with mutilation, vows of celibacy and virginity, and devotion of the firstborn. The old [[Canaanite]] "Moloch" is always written with the article the Moloch; to him children were sacrificed in Topher in the valley of the children of Hinnom. But Milcom's high place was on the Mount of Olives, and human sacrifices were not offered as they were to [[Moloch]] (&nbsp;2 Kings 23:10; &nbsp;2 Kings 23:13.) [[Josiah]] defiled the sanctuaries of both. [[Milcom]] was related to Chemosh, which is called the god of [[Ammon]] in &nbsp;Judges 11:24, though elsewhere the god of [[Moab]] (&nbsp;Numbers 21:29). </p> <p> [[Tophet]] appears again in Zedekiah's reign as the scene of child immolation to Moloch (&nbsp;Jeremiah 32:35.) God sternly forbade any letting their seed pass through the fire to Moloch (&nbsp;Leviticus 18:21; &nbsp;Leviticus 20:2-5) on pain of death, which the people should execute; otherwise God Himself would. The passing through the fire may have been sometimes only a fire baptism for purification of the dross of the body; but &nbsp;Psalms 106:37-38, shows that often expiatory human sacrifice was perpetrated, "they sacrificed their sons and daughters to "devils" ( '''''Shedim''''' , "destroyers", as Moloch was), and shed innocent blood ... unto the idols of Canaan" (compare &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:3; &nbsp;Jeremiah 19:5). In this respect Moloch answered to [[Baal]] the Phoenician sun god, to whom also human burnt offerings were sacrificed; also to Chemosh, to whom [[Mesha]] sacrificed his son (&nbsp;2 Kings 3:27; &nbsp;Micah 6:7; &nbsp;Ezekiel 16:20; &nbsp;Ezekiel 23:39). Kimchi (on &nbsp;2 Kings 23:10) represents Moloch as a hollow brass humanlike body, with ox's head, and hands stretched forth to receive. </p> <p> When it was thoroughly heated the priests put the babe into its hands, while "drums" ( '''''Tophim''''' from whence came Tophet) were beat to drown the infant cries, lest the parent should relent. The image was set within seven chapels: the first was opened to any one offering fine flour; the second to one offering turtle doves or young pigeons; the third to one offering a lamb; the fourth to one offering a ram; the fifth to one offering a calf; the sixth to one offering an ox; the seventh to one offering his son. Compare &nbsp;Amos 5:26 margin, '''''Sikut''''' of Moloch, "the covert god." &nbsp;Acts 7:43, "the tabernacle of Moloch" (like the sacred tent of the Carthaginians: [[Diodorus]] 20:65), the shrine in which the image was concealed; containing also possibly the bones of sacrificed children used for magic. The portable model "tabernacle" (compare Demetrius' silver shrines of Diana, &nbsp;Acts 19:24) was small enough to escape Moses' notice. Amos calls Moloch "your Moloch" I am not your king but he, though ye go through the form of presenting Me offerings. </p> <p> God similarly complains of their mocking Him with worship, while worshipping idols, &nbsp;Ezekiel 20:89. Moses was aware of their clandestine unfaithfulness in general, while not knowing the particulars (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 31:21-27). The Latin [[Saturn]] corresponds; to the Phoenician Saturn relatives were offered in an emergency (Sanchoniathon). So the Carthaginians, when besieged by Agathoeles, sacrificed to him 200 noble children (Diod. Siculus, 20:14) by placing them one by one in his hands in such a manner that each fell into a pit of fire. Moloch's priests took precedence of the princes, "Chemarim" (&nbsp;Jeremiah 49:3; &nbsp;2 Kings 23:5; &nbsp;Hosea 10:5; &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:4).(See [[Chemarim]] .) Hercules' priest, like Moloch himself, was called Melchart, "king of the city." Adrammelech, the Sepharvaite fire god, is related to Moloch. In &nbsp;2 Samuel 12:31 for the [[Hebrew]] margin reading '''''Malbeen''''' , "brick-kiln," the Hebrew text has '''''Μalkeen''''' , "David led through Malkan," i.e. through the place where the [[Ammonites]] had burned their children to Moloch. He made their sin their mode of punishment; as they had done to the children, so he did to them. </p>

<p> A king, the god of the Ammorites. (&nbsp;Acts 7:43) The [[Scriptures]] of God speak of Moloch upon several occasions in such a manner as make the subject very interesting to enquire into particulars concerning this horrid idol. The first account we meet with of this dunghill deity is in Leviticus, (&nbsp;Leviticus 18:21.) where the Lord prohibits [[Israel]] from allowing of any of his seed to pass through the rite to Moloch. It should seem, that the method in those acts was simply passing through the flame; and as this carried with it an idea of much personal bravery, it is likely that the children of Israel were much disposed to rival their neighbours in this supposed act of courage. Hence the [[Psalmist]] laments this degeneracy of Israel, in &nbsp;Psalms 106:1-48, from the sixth verse almost to the end. Hence the prophet Amos, (&nbsp;Amos 5:25 and following verses, laments it also, And Stephen, the first martyr, charged it upon the Sanhedrim. (&nbsp;Acts 7:42-43) That this horrid custom prevailed to a great degree is plain, from the relation we have of it, through many generations. Solomon built an high place for Moloch, (&nbsp;1 Kings 11:7) and Manasseh a long time after caused his son to, pass through the fire in honour of him. See &nbsp;2 Kings 21:1-6. And in the valley of Tophet, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of those horrid transactions being carried on. (&nbsp;Jeremiah 19:5-6, etc.) </p> <p> But beside the [[Scripture]] account, the corresponding history of the times furnish accounts which are truly distressing to read. The idol itself was made of brass, we are told, in the shape of a man, with his arms extended to embrace. The whole figure was hollow, and when any sacrifice was to be made to Moloch, they heated the statue until it was nearly red hot, and the wretched victim was then brought and put into the arms of Moloch, where it remained until consumed. To stifle the cries of the unhappy sufferer from being heard, instruments of music were made use of, which continued playing until the poor victim had expired. </p> <p> An historian of veracity, in addition to this sad account of human superstition, arising from our fallen state, tells us, that upon some occation where human sacrifices of this kind had not been so frequent as they supposed necessary, and fearing their dunghill god was displeased by way of atonement, they chose out two hundred of the noblest of their children, and made at once a sacrifice of them publicly. It is truly distressing to observe yet farther, that even to the present hour the custom of the East but too much favours this horrid practice. "The feast of fire," so called, and indeed the general plan among the worshippers of idols in the vast territory of Hindostan, afford but sad instances of the savage custom of those who immolate their children in this way. </p> <p> I have been more particular in noticing, under the article of Moloch, the general subject of human sacrifices, by way of calling the reader's attention to the happy state of the revealed word of God. Oh, how blessed is it to discover, from the relation of such things, the preciousness of that one sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, whereby "he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." </p>

<p> Moloch (&nbsp;Acts 7:43) occurs in a quotation from &nbsp;Amos 5:26. The Hebrew has ‘your king’; thus the Septuagintmay either be an explanatory gloss or represent another text. Moloch is spoken of in the OT as the god of the Ammonites, and is evidently the national deity, just as [[Chemosh]] is the god of Moab, and [[Jahweh]] the God of Israel, though the worship of other gods is not precluded. The [[Israelites]] regarded Moloch as an ‘abomination,’ and their temporary adoption of the worship of Moloch in the Valley of [[Hinnom]] gave rise to the ominous meaning attaching to ‘Gehenna.’ </p> <p> F. W. Worsley. </p>

<p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' n.) The fire god of the Ammonites in Canaan, to whom human sacrifices were offered; Molech. Also applied figuratively. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' n.) A spiny Australian lizard (Moloch horridus). The horns on the head and numerous spines on the body give it a most formidable appearance. </p>

<p> <strong> MOLOCH. </strong> See Molech. </p>

<p> See MOLECH </p>

<p> he chief god of the Ammonites, the worship of whom, which prevailed among all the Canaanites, was accompanied with cruelties, human sacrifices among others, revolting to the humane spirit of the Jewish religion; originally it appears to have been the worship of fire, through which the innocent as well as the guilty have often to pass for the achievement of the noblest enterprises, which degenerated at length into selfish sacrifices of others for interests of one's own, into the substitution of the innocent for the guilty by way of atonement to the Deity! </p>

<p> (Heb. Me'lek, '''''מֶלֶךְ''''' '', King,'' as often; Sept. and N.T. '''''Μολόχ''''' ), the name of an Ammonitish idol (Amos 4:26; &nbsp;Acts 7:43); usually called MOLECH (See Molech) (q.v.). </p>

<p> ''''' mō´lok ''''' : A deity of the Ammonites, like the planet Saturn, a representative of the sun-god in the particular aspect of a god of time. See [[Astrology]] , 8; [[Molech]] . </p>