CHILDREN in the BIBLE
© Original material and text. 2019.

Section Ten

Condemning Child Sacrifice

As repulsive as it might seem today, it is possible that a number of civilizations sacrificed children. The Bible has several verses that talk of God condemning the practice. 1. In a set of rules that govern what the Israelites should regard as being unlawful sexual relations, there is an instruction not to sacrifice children to Molek. 2. A commandment forbids any Israelite or any foreigner from sacrificing children to Molek. Punishment for this is death. God will turn away from anyone who fails to act when they know of such an act. 3. Groups of people are resettled into Samaria to replace the Israelites who had been exiled. Some of these groups are said to burn children as sacrifices for their gods. 4. Ahaz, king of Judah, is said not to have followed the ways of David his father. Amongst the ‘detestable practices’ is the sacrifice of children. 5. Manasseh was a king of Judah who is said to have sacrificed children in a list of detestable practices. 6. Isaiah speaks of God condemning Israel and their actions, including child sacrifice. 7. Ezekiel relays God’s condemnation of Jerusalem. This includes sacrificing children to idols.

Where they are

1. Leviticus Chapter 18 verse 21 2. Leviticus Chapter 20 verses 2 to 5 3. 2 Kings Chapter 17 verses 29 to 32 4. 2 Chronicles Chapter 28 verse 3 5. 2 Chronicles Chapter 33 verse 6 6. Isaiah Chapter 57 verse 5 7. Ezekiel Chapter 16 verses 20 to 22

Molek

Molek is mentioned often in the Old Testament. He seems to be a god to whom human sacrifices were often made. Scholars are unsure how much human sacrifice was a part of the Old Testament empires.
CHILDREN in the Bible
© 2019

Section Ten

Condemning Child Sacrifice

As repulsive as it might seem today, it is possible that a number of civilizations sacrificed children. The Bible has several verses that talk of God condemning the practice. 1. In a set of rules that govern what the Israelites should regard as being unlawful sexual relations, there is an instruction not to sacrifice children to Molek. 2. A commandment forbids any Israelite or any foreigner from sacrificing children to Molek. Punishment for this is death. God will turn away from anyone who fails to act when they know of such an act. 3. Groups of people are resettled into Samaria to replace the Israelites who had been exiled. Some of these groups are said to burn children as sacrifices for their gods. 4. Ahaz, king of Judah, is said not to have followed the ways of David his father. Amongst the ‘detestable practices’ is the sacrifice of children. 5. Manasseh was a king of Judah who is said to have sacrificed children in a list of detestable practices. 6. Isaiah speaks of God condemning Israel and their actions, including child sacrifice. 7. Ezekiel relays God’s condemnation of Jerusalem. This includes sacrificing children to idols.

Where they are

1. Leviticus Chapter 18 verse 21 2. Leviticus Chapter 20 verses 2 to 5 3. 2 Kings Chapter 17 verses 29 to 32 4. 2 Chronicles Chapter 28 verse 3 5. 2 Chronicles Chapter 33 verse 6 6. Isaiah Chapter 57 verse 5 7. Ezekiel Chapter 16 verses 20 to 22

Molek

Molek is mentioned often in the Old Testament. He seems to be a god to whom human sacrifices were often made. Scholars are unsure how much human sacrifice was a part of the Old Testament empires.