And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
They built worship sites for the false god Baal in the valley of Ben Hinnom, where they sacrificed their sons and daughters by fire to the god Molech. I never commanded them to do this, and it never even entered my thoughts that they would commit such a horrible act, causing all of Judah to sin.
God is expressing his shock and grief that his people would sacrifice their own children to false gods—something so evil that it never even occurred to him they would do it.
📚 Historical Context
This verse refers to the practice of child sacrifice that some Israelites adopted from surrounding pagan nations, particularly in the Valley of Hinnom (later called Gehenna) outside Jerusalem. During the reigns of kings like Ahaz and Manasseh, these detestable practices became widespread in Judah, directly violating God's law and covenant with his people.
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