Leviticus 20:2 - Easy To Read Version “You must also tell the people of Israel these things: A person in your country might give one of his children to the false god Molech. [346] That person must be killed! It does not matter if that person is a citizen of Israel or a foreigner living in Israel, you must throw stones at that person and kill him. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Moreover, you shall say to the Israelites, Any one of the Israelites or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech [the fire god worshiped with human sacrifices] shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones. American Standard Version (1901) Moreover, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. Common English Bible You will also say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or any immigrant living in Israel who gives their children to Molech must be executed. The common people will stone such a person. Catholic Public Domain Version You shall speak these things to the sons of Israel: A man among the sons Israel, or among the newcomers who live in Israel, if he will have given from his seed to the idol Moloch, he shall be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: If any man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that dwell in Israel, give of his seed to the idol Moloch, dying let him die: the people of the land shall stone him. |
Solomon built a place for worshiping Chemosh. Chemosh was that horrible idol of the Moabite people. Solomon built that worship place on a hill next to Jerusalem. On that same hill, Solomon built a worship place for Molech. Molech was that horrible idol of the Ammonite people.
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They used magic and witchcraft [211] to try to learn the future. They sold themselves to do what the Lord said was evil. They did this to make the Lord angry.
Topheth was a place in the Valley of Hinnom’s Son where people killed their children and burned them on an altar to honor the false god Molech. [289] Josiah defiled (ruined) that place so people could not use that place again.
Ahaz burned incense {\cf2\super [318]} in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. {\cf2\super [319]} He sacrificed {\cf2\super [320]} his own sons by burning them in the fire. He did the same terrible sins that the peoples living in that land did. The Lord had forced those people out when the people of Israel entered that land.
Manasseh also burned his own children for a sacrifice {\cf2\super [403]} in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. {\cf2\super [404]} Manasseh also used magic by doing soothsaying, divination, and sorcery. {\cf2\super [405]} He talked with mediums {\cf2\super [406]} and wizards. {\cf2\super [407]} Manasseh did many things that the Lord said was wrong, and this made the Lord angry.
God’s people killed innocent people.\par They killed their own children\par and offered them to those false gods.\par
“In the Valley of Ben Hinnom, {\cf2\super [272]} those people built high places {\cf2\super [273]} to the false god Baal. {\cf2\super [274]} They built those worship places so that they could burn their sons and daughters as child sacrifices. I never commanded them to do such a terrible thing. I never even thought the people of Judah would do such a terrible thing.
I let them make themselves filthy with their gifts. They even began to sacrifice their own firstborn children. In this way, I would destroy those people. Then they would know that I am the Lord.’
You are giving the same kind of gifts. You are putting your children in the fire \{as a gift to your false gods\}. You are still making yourself filthy with those filthy idols today! Do you really think that I should let you come to me and ask me for advice? I am the Lord and Master. By my life I promise, I won’t answer your questions and give you advice!
They have done the sin of adultery. {\cf2\super [192]} They are guilty of murder. They acted like prostitutes—they left me to be with their filthy idols. They had my children. But they forced them to pass through fire. They did this to give food to their filthy idols.
They killed their children for their idols, {\cf2\super [193]} and then they went into my holy place and made it filthy too! They did this inside my temple! {\cf2\super [194]}
“If any person catches a wild animal or a bird that can be eaten, then that person must pour the blood on the ground and cover it with dirt. It does not matter if that person is a citizen of Israel or a foreigner living among you!
“Also, if any person eats an animal that died by itself, or if any person eats an animal that was killed by some other animal, then that person will be unclean [311] until evening. That person must wash his clothes and wash his {whole} body with water. It does not matter if that person is a citizen of Israel or if he is a foreigner living among you!
“Tell the people: Some citizen of Israel or some traveler or foreigner living among you might offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice.
“You must not give any of your children through {the fire} to Molech. [329] If you do this, you will show that you don’t respect the name of your God! I am the Lord.
“A man or a woman who is a medium [368] or a wizard, [369] must be put to death. The people must kill them with stones. They must be killed. [370] ”
“Bring the man who cursed to a place outside the camp. Then bring together all the people who heard him curse. Those people will put their hands on his head. [420] And then all the people must throw stones at him and kill him.
Any person who speaks against the name of the Lord must be put to death. All the people must stone him. Foreigners must be punished just like the person who was born in Israel. If a person curses the {Lord’s} name, then he must be put to death.
Then Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought the man who cursed to a place outside the camp. Then they killed him with stones. So the people of Israel did just what the Lord had commanded Moses.
You carried with you the tent (place of worship) for Moloch (a false god)\par and the image of the star of your god Rephan.\par These were the idols you made to worship.\par So I will send you away beyond Babylon.’\par \i (Amos 5:25-27)\i0 \par
Don’t do that to the Lord your God! {Don’t worship God like that! Why?} Because those people do all kinds of bad things that the Lord hates. They even burn their children as sacrifices to their gods!
“You might hear about an evil thing that happens in one of the cities that the Lord your God is giving you. You might hear that a man or woman in your group has sinned against the Lord. You might hear that they have broken the Agreement of the Lord—
Don’t sacrifice your sons or daughters in the fires on your altars. [117] Don’t try to learn what will happen in the future by talking to a fortune teller or by going to a magician, a witch or a sorcerer.
Then the men in the town must kill the son with stones. By doing this you will remove this evil from yourselves. All the people of Israel will hear about this and be afraid.
then the town leaders must bring the girl to the door of her father’s house. Then the men of the town must kill her with stones. Why? Because she has done a shameful thing in Israel. She has acted like a prostitute [138] in her father’s house. You must remove that evil from your people.