From there the border ascended Ben Hinnom Valley to the southern Jebusite slope (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces Hinnom Valley on the west, at the northern end of Rephaim Valley.
They have built the high places of Baal in Ben Hinnom Valley to sacrifice their sons and daughters in the fire to Molech #– #something I had not commanded them. I had never entertained the thought that they do this detestable act, causing Judah to sin!
He passed his sons through the fire in Ben Hinnom Valley. He practised witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did a huge amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him.
He burned incense in Ben Hinnom Valley and burned his children in , the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.
‘This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all Judah’s cities that are coming to worship there. Do not hold back a word.
The Lord said to me, ‘Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: “Obey the words of this covenant and carry them out.”
‘Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord and there call out this word: “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the Lord.
Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say, “Return, unfaithful Israel. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will not look on you with anger, for I am unfailing in my love. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will not be angry for ever.