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First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading, Fourth Reading, Fifth Reading, Sixth Reading, Seventh Reading, Last Reading |
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First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading, Fourth Reading, Fifth Reading, Sixth Reading, Seventh Reading, Last Reading |
Acharey Mot |  |
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| | 18:21 |
Do not give any of your children to be initiated to Molekh, so that you not profane your God's name; I am God.
Umizar'acha lo-titen leha'avir lamolech velo techalel et-shem Eloheycha ani Adonay. |
| 18:22 |
Seventh Reading Fourth Reading
Do not lie with a male as you would with a woman, since this is a disgusting perversion.
Ve'et zachar lo tishkav mishkevey ishah to'evah hi. |
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Commentary:
children
(see Deuteronomy 18:10) Literally, 'seed.' If one gives one's children away in this manner, then the semen with which the child was conceived is considered to have been emitted in vain (Abarbanel). This also forbids one to have intercourse with a gentile (Megillah 25a).
| Molekh
This was a ritual that related to many idolatrous religions, but was particular to Molekh, an Ammonite God (Sanhedrin 64a; 1 Kings 11:7). The ritual was an initiation whereby a man's sons and daughters would go through fire (2 Kings 23:10; cf. Deuteronomy 18:10, 2 Kings 16:3, 17:17, 21:6). Some say that the initiation rite consisted of crossing a platform between two large fires, while others say that it consisted of jumping over a fire (Sanhedrin 64b; Rashi; Radak, Sherashim; Yad, Avodath Kokhavim 6:3; cf. Kesef Mishneh ad loc.)
In general, the Molekh ritual did not involve human sacrifice (Yad, loc. cit.). According to some, however, it was a trial by fire, in which the child could be killed (Ibn Ezra). In some cases, it actually did involve human sacrifice (Ramban; Rashi, Yalkut, on Jeremiah 7:31). Cf. Jeremiah 19:5, Ezekiel 23:37,39. This was associated with various occult practices (Ramban; Deuteronomy 18:10), possibly as an initiation rite for the father (Septuagint on Deuteronomy 18:10).
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