The Gods of Ugarit: Molech the God of Infanticide
Channel: Galen Currah
Date: 2019-02-10

Yahweh, Yeshuaʿ and the Gods of Ugarit: Molech the God of Infanticide
Four propositions by Dr Galen Currah
Bible quotations taken from the English Standard Version (2016)
Original music by Natrix (2018)
wordwatchers.currah.us

Introduction: Judge Jeanine Pirro, Fox News, February 2, 2019

Proposition #1: From ancient times, middle-eastern societies believed in a god of the underworld that demanded child sacrifices

Amongst cuneiform, funerary texts from ancient Ugarit, are found mention of the rapuma, underworld deities associated with the royal cult of the dead. These rapuma are also associated with the matuma, the dead, and with malku 'almu , an “everlasting king,” to whom ancient worshippers would offer a shalmu “peace offering.”

This latter deity may be identified with Malikum, known across the ancient Middle East as a god of the netherworld. 

In punic literature Molk or Mulk (a maqtil form of h/ylk) occurs in the phrases mlk 'mr (sacrifice of sheep) and mlk 'dm (sacrifice of human), that is, “child sacrifice,” pronounced in Latin as molch. Bones of human children and of small animal have been found at Carthage, in Sicily and in Sardinia where they may have served as votive offerings to the god Baʿal-Hammon. 

Proposition #2: In the Holy Bible, Maliku becomes Molech (mlk,), “the abomination of the Ammonites” (1 Kings 11:7).

As early as the 15th century BCE, the law if Moses warned against infanticide:

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech. Leviticus 20:1-5

By the 7th century BCE, King Josiah made an effort to put a stop to infanticide at Jerusalem:

He defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no one might burn his son or his daughter as an offering to Molech. 2 Kings 23:10

The prophet Jeremiah supported the king in this effort:

They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. Jeremiah 32:35

A generation later in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel reproached the Israelites:

You took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? Ezekiel 16:20-21

They have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. With their idols they have committed adultery, and they have even offered up to them for food the children whom they had borne to me. Ezekiel 23:37

In the first century CE, the martyr Stephen quoted the prophet Amos to corrupt leaders about their national sins:

You took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon. Acts 7:42-43

Proposition #3: God will judge individuals who commit infanticide, and nations that condone infanticide. 

1. All new-born children belong to God, not to their parents.
2. Governments are responsible to God to prevent infanticide.
3. Infanticide is motivated by an evil spirit named Molech.
4. Those who commit infanticide become guilty of murder.
5. God places a curse upon individuals and clans that commit infanticide.
6. God tears down governments and nations that legalize infanticide.

Proposition #4: Christian believers must take a stand for life, against Infanticide.

1. Refuse to patronize businesses, media and churches that promote infanticide.
2. Educate fellow believers on the sanctity of human life before God.
3. Financially support poor, unmarried mothers.
4. Provide adoption for children whose mothers reject them.
5. Put pressure on law-makers to protect infant life.
6. Pray God to change medical practitioners who perform infanticide.
7. Pray God to change political authorities who condone infanticide.

Conclusion

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,  loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land. Deuteronomy 30:19-20