Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(king). Moloch (Acts 7:43). Milcom (1 Kings 11:5). Malcham (Zeph. 1:5). Tutelary divinity (fire-god) of the Ammonites (Lev. 18:21; 2 Kings 23:10).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This is the Fire-god, “the abomination of Ammon.” In the latter days of Solomon, when the heathen women whom he had married had turned away his heart after other gods, he built a high place in the hill before (that is, “east of”) Jerusalem for Molech. The Israelites sacrificed their children to this idol. Passing their children through the fire might seem to imply that they were dedicated to the idol by being rapidly passed through a fire without being burnt, and this may have been done, but some passages do not admit of this interpretation. Of the Canaanites it is said, “their sons and their daughters have they burnt in the fire to their gods” (Deut. 12:31); and of Israel it is recorded, they have “caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them....for when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it” (Ezek. 23:37, 39; Lev. 18:21; Lev. 20:2-5; 1 Kings 11:7; 2 Kings 23:10; Jer. 23:35).
The expression “the tabernacle of your Moloch” (Amos 5:26), is quoted in Acts 7:43-44. The Israelites had not worshipped Jehovah for forty years in the wilderness; but they had carried symbols of Molech and Chiun (or Remphan) and worshipped them. The root of their idolatrous course was that they had never in heart made a clean break from Egypt
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
from 4427; Molek (i.e. king), the chief deity of the Ammonites
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
the king (it always has the article, and is vocalized the same as "bosheth," which some think is to denote "shame")
Potts’ Bible Proper Names:
A king; dominion; rule:―chief deity of the Ammonites [MOLECH], Amos 5:26, {Rex}
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Leviticus 18:21. Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech.
Molech (sometimes written Moloch) was an old Canaanitish idol, into whose worship the Israelites gradually became drawn. Similar rites were performed among other nations, probably varying at different times and in different places. The usual description given of this god is that of a hollow image made of brass, and having a human body with the head of an ox. The idol sat on a brazen throne with hands extended. In sacrificing to it the image was heated to redness by a fire built within. The parents then placed their children in the heated arms, while the noise of drums and cymbals drowned the cries of the little sufferers. It is also said that there were seven chapels connected with the idol, which were to be entered according to the relative value of the offering presented; only those who offered children being allowed to enter the seventh. Miniatures of these are supposed to be the “tabernacle” referred to in Amos 5:26; Acts 7:43. Others think the “tabernacle” was a shrine or ark in which the god was carried in procession.
Some eminent writers deny that the description above given refers to the Molech of the Old Testament. The Bible itself gives no account of the idol save that children were made to “pass through the fire” to it. A diversity of opinion prevails as to the meaning of this expression. Most Jewish writers claim that it does not imply the actual sacrificing or burning of the children, but merely an idolatrous ceremonial purification; a fire baptism, which was accomplished by carrying the children between fires, or leaping over fires with them, or causing them to do the same. However this may have been in earlier times it is certain that the service—of Molech implied more than this at some periods of Jewish history. In the days of Ezekiel God’s testimony was, “Thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them” (Ezek. 16:21). Here passing through the fire is evidently synonymous with death. See also 2 Chronicles 28:3; Psalm 106:37, 38; Jeremiah 7:31.
Frequent reference is made in the Scriptures to this heathen abomination. See 2 Kings 16:3; 17:17; 21:6; 23:10; Jeremiah 32:35; Ezekiel 20:31. The crime was threatened with the severest punishment (Lev. 20:1-5).
Human sacrifices were anciently known to the Phenicians, Egyptians, Carthaginians, and other nations.
Some writers have sought to identify the worship of Molech with that of Baal. Others suppose that, according to the well-known astrological character of the Phenician and Syrian religions, Molech was the planet Saturn. Winer says: “The dearest ones might well be sacrificed to a star so dreaded as Saturn, in order to appease it, especially by nations who were by no means strangers to human sacrifices” (Biblisch. Realw., s. v. Molech).
Related Books and Articles: