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Leviticus 20:3
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Penalties for Breaking the Law

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 a“Again, you shall say to the children of Israel: b‘Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who1 dwell in Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall cstone him with stones.  
3 aI will set My face against that man, and will1 cut him off from his people, because he has given some of his descendants to Molech, to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name.  
4 And if the people of the land should in any way1 hide their eyes from the man, when he gives some of his descendants to Molech, and they do not kill him,  
5 then I will set My face against that man and against his family; and I will cut him off from his people, and all who prostitute themselves with him to commit harlotry with Molech.
6 ‘And athe person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.  
7 aConsecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.  
8 And you shall keep aMy statutes, and perform them: bI am the Lord who sanctifies you.  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Leviticus 20:2   Leviticus 20:4 >>


Leviticus 20:2-5

Molech, literally, "the King" , called also Moloch, Milcom, and Malcham, was known in later times as "the abomination of the Ammonites" I Kings 11:5. He appears to have been the fire-god of the eastern nations; related to, and sometimes made identical with, Baal, the sun-god. The nature of the rite and of the impious custom called passing children through the fire to Molech is very doubtful. The practices appear to have been essentially connected with magical arts, probably also with unlawful lusts, and with some particular form of profane swearing. The rite in the time of Moses belonged to the region rather of magic than of definite idolatrous worship, and may have been practiced as a lustral charm, or fire-baptism, for the children of incest and adultery.

Leviticus 20:2

Stone him with stones - The commonest form of capital punishment. It was probably preferred as being the one in which the execution was the act of the whole congregation.

Leviticus 20:3

Defile my sanctuary - i. e. pollute the people as identified with their sanctuary.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Leviticus 20:3:

Leviticus 18:21
Leviticus 20:2-5
Leviticus 26:3-45
1 Kings 11:5
2 Kings 17:17
2 Kings 21:6
Psalms 12:3
Amos 2:7
Zephaniah 1:5
Acts 7:43

 

<< Leviticus 20:2   Leviticus 20:4 >>

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