2 Kings 23:10-12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
10 The king also defiled Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, so that there would no longer be any immolation of sons or daughters by fire[a] in honor of Molech.(A) 11 He did away with the horses which the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun; these were at the entrance of the house of the Lord, near the chamber of Nathan-melech the official, which was in the large building. The chariots of the sun he destroyed by fire. 12 He also demolished the altars made by the kings of Judah on the roof (the roof terrace of Ahaz), and the altars made by Manasseh in the two courts of the Lord’s house. He pulverized them and threw the dust into the Wadi Kidron.(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 23:10 Topheth…by fire: Topheth was a cultic site probably in the Hinnom Valley just west of Jerusalem where, apparently, children were immolated to the deity Molech (Hebrew melek, “king,” deformed in the biblical tradition to “Molech”). The practice was condemned by Deuteronomic law and denounced by Jeremiah (Dt 12:31; Jer 7:29–31). In Jer 19 the deity is identified as the Canaanite god Baal.
2 Kings 23:10-12
New International Version
10 He desecrated Topheth,(A) which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom,(B) so no one could use it to sacrifice their son(C) or daughter in the fire to Molek. 11 He removed from the entrance to the temple of the Lord the horses that the kings of Judah(D) had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court[a] near the room of an official named Nathan-Melek. Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun.(E)
12 He pulled down(F) the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof(G) near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts(H) of the temple of the Lord. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley.(I)
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 23:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
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