49

Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Idolatry – עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה

Do not offer your children to Molech by passing them through fire.

This mitzvah forbids the idolatrous practice of passing children through fire as an offering to the idol Molech. The ritual was one of the most abominable forms of idolatry, combining cruelty with spiritual corruption. By banning it absolutely, the Torah emphasizes that human life is sacred and must never be subjected to such pagan rites.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 6:3): The service of Molech consisted of passing one’s child between two fires; even if the child was not burned, the act is prohibited.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 208): The root is to uproot barbaric practices that destroy compassion and desecrate Hashem’s Name.
  • Talmud (Sanhedrin 64a): Details the service of Molech and affirms its punishment as stoning, underscoring its gravity.
(Source: Chabad.org)
וּמִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֥ לֹא־תִתֵּ֖ן לְהַעֲבִ֣יר לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֧א תְחַלֵּ֛ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
Leviticus 18:21 - "And you shall not give any of your offspring to pass through for Molech. And you shall not profane the Name of your God. I am the Lord."

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Idolatry - עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה

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Mitzvot that prohibit worship of false gods and practices associated with idol worship.

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