John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Again thou shalt say to the children of Israel , etc.] The body of the people by their elders, and the heads of their tribes; for the following laws were binding on them all: whosoever [he be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel ; everyone of the people of Israel, of whatsoever age, sex, or condition of life: and not they only, but the strangers and proselytes; and not the proselytes of righteousness only, but the proselytes of the gate, who, as well as the others, were to shun idolatry, and other impieties and immoralities after mentioned: that giveth [any] of his seed unto Molech ; which Aben Ezra interprets of lying with an idolatrous woman, or a worshipper of Molech, the abomination or idol of the Ammonites, ( 1 Kings 11:7); of which (see Leviticus 18:21); but more than that is here intended, or even than causing their seed or offspring to pass through the fire to Molech, as in the place referred to; more is meant by it than a lustration of them, or a dedicating them to Molech, by delivering them to his priests to lead them between two fires for that purpose, but even the sacrificing of them to him; and so the Targum of Jonathan seems to understand it, which is, “that makes (or sacrifices) of his seed Molech to be burnt in the fire:” for that the Phoenicians or Canaanites, whose customs the Israelites were in danger of imitating, and therefore cautioned against, did sacrifice human creatures, and these the dearest to them, even their beloved and only begotten children, to Saturn, is certain, as Porphyry and Eusebius f718 affirm, or to Hercules, as Pliny f719 , and both the same with Molech, or the sun: he shall surely be put to death ; by the hand of the civil magistrate, which death was to be by stoning, as follows: the people of the land shall stone him with stones : that is, the people of the house of Israel, as both the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; such as lived in that part of the country where the idolater lived, and where he committed the sin, or was condemned for it; of the manner of stoning, (see Gill on “ Acts 7:58”).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Are we shocked at the unnatural cruelty of the ancient idolaters i sacrificing their children? We may justly be so. But are there not very many parents, who, by bad teaching and wicked examples, and by the mysteries of iniquity which they show their children, devote them to the service of Satan, and forward their everlasting ruin, in a manne even more to be lamented? What an account must such parents render to God, and what a meeting will they have with their children at the da of judgment! On the other hand, let children remember that he wh cursed father or mother was surely put to death. This law Chris confirmed. Laws which were made before are repeated, and penaltie annexed to them. If men will not avoid evil practices, because the la has made these practices sin, and it is right that we go on tha principle, surely they should avoid them when the law has made the death, from a principle of self-preservation. In the midst of thes laws comes in a general charge, Sanctify yourselves, and be ye holy. It is the Lord that sanctifies, and his work will be done, though it be difficult. Yet his grace is so far from doing away our endeavours, tha it strongly encourages them. Work out your salvation, for it is God that worketh in you.
Original Hebrew ואל413 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 תאמר559 אישׁ376 אישׁ376 מבני1121 ישׂראל3478 ומן4480 הגר1616 הגר1481 בישׂראל3478 אשׁר834 יתן5414 מזרעו2233 למלך4432 מות4191 יומת4191 עם5971 הארץ776 ירגמהו7275 באבן׃68
