molech Summary and Overview

(king). The fire-god Molech was the tutelary deity of the children of Ammon, and essentially identical with the Moabitish Chemosh. Fire-gods appear to have been common to all the Canaanite, Syrian and Arab tribes, who worshipped the destructive element under an outward symbol, with the most inhuman rites. According to Jewish tradition, the image of Molech was of brass, hollow within, and was situated without Jerusalem. "His face was (that) of a calf, and his hands stretched forth like a man who opens his hands to receive (something) of his neighbor. And they kindled it with fire, and the priests took the babe and put it into the hands of Molech, and the babe gave up the ghost." Many instances of human sacrifices are found in ancient writers, which may be compared with the description of the Old Testament of the manner in which Molech was worshipped. Molech was the lord and master of the Ammonites; their country was his possession, #Jer 49:1| as Moab was the heritage of Chemosh; the princes of the land were the princes of Malcham. #Jer 49:3; Am 1:15| His priests were men of rank, #Jer 49:3| taking precedence of the princes. The priests of Molech, like those of other idols, were called Chemarim. #2Ki 23:5; Ho 10:5; Zep 1:4|

MO'LECH (the ruler), Lev 18:21. or MIL'COM, 1 Kgs 11:5, or MO'LOCH, Acts 7:43, the name of an idol-god worshipped by the Ammonites with human sacrifices, especially children. The Rabbins tell us that it was made of brass and placed on a brazen throne, and that the head was that of a calf with a crown upon it. The throne and image were made hollow, and a furious fire was kindled within it. The flames penetrated into the body and limbs of the idol; and when the arms were red-hot, the victim was thrown into them, and was almost immediately burned to death, while its cries were drowned by drums. Though warned against this idolatry, common to all the Canaanite tribes, though probably not of Canaanite origin, the Jews were repeatedly allured to adopt it. 2 Kgs 23:10; Eze 20:26. In the Valley of Hinnom they set up a tabernacle to Molech, and there they sacrificed their children to the idol.