Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 21:6
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.
6. And he made his son ] The LXX. represents ‘sons’ here, and the Chronicler has the plural in the parallel passage, ‘He caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom’. Probably the expression in Chronicles only means that he practised this Moloch-worship, and the plural number need not be literally pressed.
pass through the fire ] See note on 2Ki 16:3. ‘The valley of the son of Hinnom’ mentioned by the Chronicler was a ravine on the south and west of Jerusalem, the south-east extremity of which had the name of Tophet. Because of the horrors which had been perpetrated there, the place was defiled, and converted into a receptacle of all that was foul and offensive, for the destruction of which constant fires were kept burning. For this reason the name Ge Hinnom, modified into Gehenna, came to be employed to designate the region of eternal torment.
and observed times ] R.V. practised augury. The rendering of A.V. is from the Vulgate, but that version in other places represents the sense as being ‘to use augury’. (See Vulg. of Isa 2:6; Isa 57:3.) In the LXX. the renderings express the gathering of omens, either from sounds heard or from the flight of birds. The Jewish interpreters say it means one who decides by certain signs what days are good for trade, and which to travel on, &c. This is the idea in observing times, but the R.V. appears to embrace the whole of the senses given to the word.
used enchantments ] The word is that which is used Num 24:1 of Balaam going ‘to seek for enchantments’. It refers to gathering of signs as the superstitious are wont to do, from this or that, whether they are to do or leave undone any undertaking they contemplate.
dealt with [R.V. with them that had ] familiar spirits ] The Hebrew word Ob, usually translated ‘one that hath a familiar spirit’, means originally ‘a bottle’. It is applied first of all to the spirit supposed to reside within the persons so possessed; then to the person himself. After that because the answers were supposed to be derived from the spirits of the dead, it was applied to one called up from the dead. So 1Sa 28:8 Saul asks at Endor ‘Divine unto me by the familiar spirit ’. The second use of the word is exemplified in the verse before us, where those that deal with the spirit are called Ob, and the third sense is found in Isa 29:4 where the voice of an Ob is said to come out of the ground and to whisper out of the dust. The LXX. renders the word by , ventriloquist, probably because the utterances of ventriloquists seem to come from within the speaker without motion of the lips.
The verb rendered ‘deal with’ is literally ‘made’. Hence it has been thought that Manasseh gave offices to such persons as are here spoken of, and appointed (see R.V. marg.) them as official diviners.
wizards ] The Hebrew word is connected with the verb ‘to know’. Hence wizard, which implies one who is supposed to be preternaturally wise well represents the word.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
On the meaning of the phrase passing through the fire, see 2Ki 16:3, and Lev 20:2-5.
To observe times was forbidden in the Law (marginal references), and was no doubt among the modes of divination practiced by the Canaanite nations. It has been explained as,
(1) Predicting from the state of the clouds and atmosphere;
(2) Fascination with the eye;
(3) Watching and catching at chance words as ominous.
Dealt with familiar spirits – This practice was forbidden by Moses Lev 19:31 under the penalty of death Lev 20:27. Its nature is best learned from Sauls visit to the witch of Endor (1Sa 28:7, etc.).
Wizards – Wizards – literally, wise men – are always joined with those who have familiar spirits. Probably they were a sort of necromancers.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Made his son pass through the fire] Consecrated him to Moloch.
Observed times] veonen; he practiced divination by the clouds; by observing their course at particular times, their different kinds, contrary directions, c., c.
Used enchantments] venichesh he used incantations, spells, and charms.
Dealt with familiar spirits] veasah ob he was a necromancer; was a raiser of spirits, whom he endeavoured to press into his service; he had a Python.
And wizards] veyiddeonim; the knowing ones, the white witches, and such like; see on Le 19:26-31, where most of these terms are particularly explained and illustrated.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Made his son pass through the fire; of which See Poole “Lev 18:21; 2Ki 16:3“.
Observed times, i.e. lucky or unlucky days or seasons for the despatch of businesses, according to the superstitious practice of the heathens. See Est 3:7; see also Lev 19:26; Deu 18:10,11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. made his son pass through thefire(See on 2Ki 16:3).
observed timesfrom anobservation of the clouds.
used enchantmentsjuggleryand spells.
dealt with familiarspiritsSeptuagint, “ventriloquists,” whopretended to ask counsel of a familiar spirit and gave the responsereceived from him to others.
and wizardswise orknowing ones, who pretended to reveal secrets, to recover things lostand hidden treasure, and to interpret dreams. A great influx of theseimpostors had, at various times, poured from Chaldea into the land ofIsrael to pursue their gainful occupations, especially during thereigns of the latter kings; and Manasseh was not only their liberalpatron, but zealous to appear himself an adept in the arts. He raisedthem to be an influential class at his court, as they were in that ofAssyria and Babylon, where nothing was done till they had ascertainedthe lucky hour and were promised a happy issue.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he made his son pass through the fire,…. To Molech, after the manner of the old Canaanites and Phoenicians; his son Amon, that succeeded him, and other children, as appears from 2Ch 33:6, where mention is made of the place where it was done, the valley of the son of Hinnom:
and observed times; lucky or unlucky, which was judged of by omens, and by the position of the stars:
and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards; to get knowledge of things to come; all which are forbid and condemned by the law of Moses; see De 18:10,
he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger; in all those evils before mentioned, which were very abominable in the sight of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(6) And he made his son . . .The LXX. has his sons; so Chronicles.
Dealt with familiar spirits . . .made a necro-manceri.e., formally appointed such a person as a court official (1Ki. 12:31). (See the Notes on chaps. 16:3, 17:17, and especially 2Ch. 33:6.)
In the time from Manasseh onwards, Moloch-worship and worship of the Queen of Heaven appear as prominent new features of Judahs idolatry. It is also probable that the local high places took on their restoration a more markedly heathenish character than before (Prof. Robertson Smith).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Made his son pass through the fire So he equalled the wicked Ahaz in the horrible abomination. See 2Ki 16:3, note.
Observed times Rather, practised magic. The word , thus rendered, is, according to Aben Ezra, from , a cloud, and refers to the practice of divination by observing the courses of the clouds.
Enchantments familiar spirits wizards Various forms of sorcery and witchcraft, all positively forbidden in the law. See on Deu 18:9-12.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.
Ver. 6. And he made his son to pass through the fire. ] Yea, more than one of his children. 2Ch 21:6 See 2Ki 16:3 .
And observed times.
And dealt with familiar spirits.
To provoke him to anger.
a Diod.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
his son. Son put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for his sons. Compare 2Ch 33:6.
pass through the fire. As Ahaz had done (2Ki 16:3; Compare 2Ki 23:10. Deu 18:10). The name of Moloch was common at this time (Zep 1:5).
observed times. Compare Deu 18:10.
used enchantments. The same as modern spiritism. Compare Lev 19:31. Deu 18:10.
familiar spirits. Hebrew a familiar spirit. See note on Lev 19:31.
wizards = mediums.
wickedness. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44. Same word as ‘evil’, 2Ki 21:2.
Him. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “Him” in text.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 3321, bc 683
he made: 2Ki 16:3, 2Ki 17:17, Lev 18:21, Lev 20:2, Lev 20:3, 2Ch 28:3, 2Ch 33:6, Mic 6:7
observed times: Lev 19:26, Lev 19:31, Deu 18:10-14
familiar: 1Ch 10:13, Isa 8:19, Isa 19:3, Act 16:16
wrought: 2Ki 24:3, 2Ki 24:4, Gen 13:13
Reciprocal: Gen 44:5 – divineth 1Sa 2:17 – before 2Ki 3:2 – wrought 2Ki 14:24 – in the sight 2Ki 17:11 – to provoke 2Ki 23:10 – might make 2Ki 23:19 – to provoke the Lord 2Ki 23:24 – the workers Psa 51:4 – evil Psa 106:37 – they sacrificed Isa 66:4 – they did Jer 7:6 – and shed Jer 19:4 – filled Eze 16:21 – to pass Eze 20:26 – in that Eze 23:37 – have also Dan 4:17 – the basest Act 7:43 – ye took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 21:6. He made his son pass through the fire By which he dedicated him to Moloch, in contempt of the seal of circumcision by which he had been dedicated to God: see notes on Lev 18:21-22. And observed times Lucky or unlucky days, according to the superstitious practice of the heathen.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:6 And he made his son {a} pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.
(a) Read 2Ki 16:3.