Who is Molech in the Bible? 
The question of who is Molech in the bible has been debated by scholars for centuries. While the name “Moloch” means “sacrifice,” the exact meaning is still disputed. The most widely accepted view is that Molech was an idol, or a god that offered sacrifices.
Ashtaroth
The Bible mentions several molech gods, including Ashtaroth. This ancient moon goddess was associated with the worship of Baal. Molech is also the national deity of the Ammonites, and his worship involved the burning of children. The name Ashtaroth is a corruption of the Semitic word molekh, which means king. However, the biblical name for this god varies.
Molech was often represented as a human body with a bull’s head. Statues of Molech were bronze or brass, with arms extended and a bulging belly that served as a firebox. This idol was especially disturbing because it involved the sacrifice of children. Families would allow their infants to be sacrificed to the god, sacrificing them to obtain favor or prosperity. However, this practice is prohibited in the Bible.
Ashtaroth’s worship was banned in Israel, and was associated with death and destruction. It was also associated with paganism. In addition, it was punishable by death if a person worshiped Molech. It was also prohibited to have sex with an unmarried woman.
Ashtaroth is mentioned in the Bible twelve times in the Old Testament. She was a god of fertility and war. She was also known as Ashtoreth or Ishtar. The Assyrian and Babylonian cultures worshipped her. The Greeks and North Africans also revered her.
Moloch worship was also widespread in ancient Canaan. Some monoliths bear engravings of “mlk” indicating a sacrifice of man or lamb. The god was later renamed as “Kronos” in North Africa. In Greece, the god was worshipped as a titan. Although the Bible is not clear on the origin of the term Moloch, it demonstrates its close association to Ba’al.
Hadad-Baal
Some scholars have argued that Baal was a pantheistic deity, while others argue that Baal was a monotheistic deity. Regardless, the Bible is full of references to the Baals, and the word baal is found frequently in the Bible. For example, in Deuteronomy xxiii, 18 we find mention of Baal as the male principle of reproduction. This is a strong hint that the word baal could be a symbol for Baal himself.
Hadad is also associated with rain and storms. Many people believed that by offering him sacrifices, they would ensure that the life-giving waters would return to the earth. Hadad is one of many “baals” in the Bible, all of which are rivals of the true God of Israel. Elijah, however, opposes Hadad-Baal and proves that God is the true God of Israel.
The Hebrew word molech can also be translated as ‘king’. In addition to this, it can be used to refer to the Canaanite gods Baal or Hadad-Baal. In the Bible, these gods are often associated with child sacrifice.
The Bible also lists several prohibitions against child sacrifice, especially to Molech. Specifically, law #18 prohibits child sacrifice, which profanes the name of Yahweh. In fact, scholars have noted that the Phoenicians also used a similar phrase. This prohibition is consistent with the prohibition of adultery in the Decalogue.
Another way that Baal was associated with child sacrifice is through the Bible’s description of child sacrifice. In the Bible, the god of child sacrifice is called Molech, and the children who are sacrificed to Baal are called tophet. This practice is described in Jer 19:6-13. King Ahaz himself burned his own son in a fire for the worship of Baal. King Josiah later destroyed the cultic sites. Another passage referring to child sacrifice is Dt 18:10, where we find a similar description.
Tophet
Molech is a fire god who was the tutelary god of the children of Ammon. The Hebrew form of the word occurs with varying degrees of variation. Some ancient texts relate the god to a lamb or a sacrifice. This suggests a connection between Molech and Baal.
The name Tophet comes from a place in Jerusalem known as the tophet. The tophet was a sacred site that featured child sacrifice. The practice included passing an infant through fire, as if it was a living being. The child was then put into the idol’s arms when the fire had reached the desired temperature. This practice was a violation of God’s commandment against child sacrifice. In fact, infanticide was an early practice of idolatry.
In the Bible, Molock’s name is probably derived from the Hebrew word melech, which normally means king. There are also references to Molock in Ancient Greek translations of old Judaic texts. These texts date back to the Second Temple period, between 516 B.C. and 70 C.E., before the Romans destroyed it. In addition, the tophet at Salammbo was covered by a Roman vault during the Roman period. This site was used for sacrifices by the Carthaginians.
According to the Bible, the Tophet was a place of sacrifice. It was near Jerusalem. People worshipped the god Moloch and sacrificed their children to him. While this was forbidden, it is possible that some of the people still practiced it. In the western Mediterranean, there were temples dedicated to Molech and Chemosh, two of the most detestable pagan gods. These were located at Tophet, which means ‘drums’.
Hinnom
The name Molech is often misconstrued as that of an Ammonite god. The Hebrew Bible says that it was the god of the Ammonites, but we are not told why. Molech is a bull-headed deity. He was often worshiped by placing an infant in his hands and then watching it burn. This practice demonstrates the depth of depravity and disregard for human life. It was acceptable only among morally degenerate people, and it grieved the Lord.
The Bible mentions Molech in several places. It is not clear when Molech was worshiped, though it is commonly believed that Molech’s worship was associated with infanticide. Some scholars believe that the term Molech refers to the ancient idol of Molech. Regardless of the context, it is important to remember that the Bible describes the act of sacrificing a baby to Molech.
During the captivity in Babylon, the Israelites were idolatrous and worshiped Moloch. While this pagan idol worship was a part of the Babylonian religion, it was forbidden in the Bible to perform human sacrifices. Therefore, the dispersal of the Israelites purified them of their false gods. As a result, the Valley of Hinnom became a dump for garbage and the bodies of executed criminals. During Jesus’ ministry, this image was used to describe hell.
The name Hinnom in the Bible means “high place” in Arabic. This place was an area where the Ammonite worshiped Molech. Historically, the site of Moloch’s worship was located in the valley of Hinnom. This valley was located on the boundary of Judah and Benjamin. The valley is also known as the Valley of Hinnom in the Bible.