MOLECH (no'lek), (Heb. VV-1, ha-mo'lek, the ruler), always with the article, except in Kings xi :7.
Molech is chiefly found in the Old Testament as the national god of the Ammonites, to whom children were sacrificed by fire. There is some difficulty in ascertaining at what period the Israel ites became acquainted with this idolatry ; yet three reasons render it probable that it was be fore the time of Solomon, the date usually as signed for its introduction. Nevertheless. it is for the first time directly stated that Solomon erected a high-place for Molech on the Mount of Olives (i Kings xi:7) ; and from that period his wor ship continued uninterruptedly there, or in To phet, in the valley of Hinnom, until Josiah defiled both places (2 Kings xxiii :to, 13). Jehoahaz, however, the son and successor of Josiah, again 'did what was evil in the sight of Jehovah. ac cording to all that his fathers had done' (2 Kings xxiii :32). The same broad condemnation is made against the succeeding kings, Jehoiakim, Jehoia chin, and Zcdekiah ; and Ezekiel, writing during the captivity. says, 'Do you, by offering your gifts, and by making your sons pass through the fire, pollute yourselves with all your idols until this day, and shall I be enquired of by you?" (xx:3i).
Aftcr the restoration all traces of this idolatry disappear.
It has been attempted to explain the terms in w'hich the act of sacrificing children is described in the Old Testament so as to make them mean a mere passing between two fires. without any risk of life, for the purpose of purification. This theory—which owes its origin to a desire in some Hebrew writers to lessen the mass of evidence which their own history offers of the perverse idolatries of the Jews—is effectually declared un tenable by such passages as Ps. cvi :38; Jer. vii: 31; Ezek. xvi :20 xxiii :37; the last two of which may also be adduced to show that the victims were slaughtered before they were burnt.
The Rabbins tell us that the idol 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. J. N.