Molech
deity earth Israelite single tradition · 1
Molech is a deity associated with child sacrifice rituals performed at the tophet in ancient Israel. King Josiah defiled the tophet in the valley of the son of Hinnom so that no one would make their children pass through the fire to Molech. Most sources associate the tophet sacrifices with Molech, though Jeremiah associates them with Baal.
When
- First attested
- 900 BCE
- Attested period
- -900 – -500
- Historical notes
- Attested in Hebrew Bible texts including 2 Kings, associated with tophet rituals before Josiah's reform.
Relationships
Mentioned by
Sources
wikipedia (1)
Source passages
“King Josiah defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.”
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