Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 28:3
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
3. the valley of the son of Hinnom ] This name was of harmless signification at first (Jer 7:31-32), but its Heb. form G-hinnm was afterwards corrupted into “Gehenna” (Mat 5:22, R.V. mg.) and it gained an evil reputation from its connexion with the worship of Molech. It was S. and S.W. of Jerusalem.
burnt in the fire ] In Kings “made to pass through, the fire.” The latter phrase lends support to the theory that at least in later times children were “passed through the fire” in order to signify their dedication to Molech, yet in such a way as to escape permanent injury. It is probable however that the original significance of the custom is preserved in the phrase used by the Chronicler, and that children offered to Molech were really burnt. Of course such a sacrifice would be resorted to only in extremities; cp. 2Ki 3:27.
his children ] In Kings, “his son” (sing.), a better reading. It is possible that the sacrifice was intended to avert the danger threatened by the Syro-Ephraimite alliance.
after ] R.V. according to (cp. 2Ch 34:21).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Compare the 2Ki 16:3 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Burnt his children in the fire] There is a most remarkable addition here in the Chaldee which I shall give at length: “Ahaz burnt his children in the fire; but the WORD of the Lord snatched Hezekiah from among them; for it was manifest before the Lord that the three righteous men, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were to proceed from him; who should deliver up their bodies that they might be cast into a burning fiery furnace, on account of the great and glorious NAME, () and from which they should escape. First, Abram escaped from the furnace of fire among the Chaldeans, into which he had been cast by Nimrod, because he would not worship their idols. Secondly, Tamar escaped burning in the house of judgment of Judah, who had said, Bring her out, that she may be burnt. Thirdly, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz escaped from the burning, when Ahaz his father cast him into the valley of the son of Hinnom, on the altars of Tophet. Fourthly, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, escaped from the burning fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Fifthly, Joshua, the son of Josedek the high priest, escaped, when the impious Nebuchadnezzar had cast him into a burning fiery furnace, with Achaab the son of Kolia, and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, the false prophet. They were consumed by fire; but Joshua the son of Josedek escaped because of his righteousness.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[See comments on 2Ch 28:1]
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Moreover he.And he (emphatic) burnt incense to Moloch, the god of Ammon, for whom Solomon had built a high place (1Ki. 11:5-8), which was still in existence.
In the valley of the son of Hinnom.Also called simply the valley of Hinnom (Jos. 15:8), on the west and south of Jerusalem (Jos. 18:16), the scene of the cruel rites in honour of
Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood.
MILTON.
(Jer. 7:31-32; Jer. 19:2-6, where the Baal is named as the object of this worship, Moloch being a Baal.) In later times, the term valley of Hinnom, spelt as one word, and with modified vowels, Ghinnm, became the appellation of hell, the house of woe and pain. It is so used in the Targums, and later in the Talmud, and appears in the New Testament under the Grcised form , whence the Latin Gehenna.
Burnt his children in the fire.Kings, And even his own son he made to pass through the fire. The chronicler has paraphrased by transposing two Hebrew letters (baar for abar). His children is simply a generalised expression, as we might say, he burnt his own offspring or posterity. (Comp. Psa. 106:37.) Thenius accuses the chronicler of exaggerating the fact. But this peculiar use of the plural is one of the marks of his style. (Comp. 1Ch. 6:57; 1Ch. 6:67; and 2Ch. 28:16, infra.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 28:3. And burnt his children in the fire And caused his children to pass through the fire. See Lev 18:21 and the versions.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
Ver. 3. And burnt his children in the fire. ] Some he burnt outright, in honour of Moloch, or Saturn (indeed the devil), and others he caused to pass through the fire, with the safeguard of their lives, though not haply of their hair; believing that thereby they were purged from their spiritual filthiness. The Tartars do the like at this day: the Papists also, in their supposed purgatory, dream of such a like purgation. The king of Spain put his eldest son into the hands of the bloody Inquisitors, to be murdered by them, that he might approve himself an obedient son to the Pope, who thereupon blasphemously applied unto him that saying of the apostle, He spared not his own son, but gave him for us. See 2Ki 16:3 . a
a Jerome. Caten.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
heathen = nations.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
burnt incense: or, offered sacrifice
the valley: 2Ki 23:10, Jer 7:31, Jer 7:32, Jer 19:2-6, Jer 19:13
burnt: 2Ch 33:6, Lev 18:21, 2Ki 16:3, Psa 106:37, Psa 106:38, Jer 2:34, Jer 32:35, Eze 16:20, Eze 16:21, Mic 6:7
after the abominations: 2Ch 33:2, Deu 12:31
Reciprocal: Lev 20:2 – giveth Deu 18:10 – maketh Jos 15:8 – valley of the son Jos 18:16 – the valley of the son 2Ki 17:17 – they caused 2Ki 21:6 – he made 2Ch 28:25 – burn 2Ch 36:14 – very much Isa 57:5 – slaying Jer 19:5 – to burn Eze 11:12 – but Eze 20:26 – in that