The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 346

genital tendency has broken out into act. who followed the example of hie grand- The Israel addressed is as "adulterous," i.e. father in himself SRoriflcing one of hie sons idolatrous, as tbe Israel of former times. (2 Kings xxi. 6). Under the last three Ver. 4.-Againat whom do ye sport yo'lll'- kings it prevailed to a very wide ex Lent, and aelve111 The idolatrous Israelites here ad- the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel are loud dressed, no doubt, made 1L mock of the few in their denunciations of it rJ er. vii. 31, 32; righteous who were still living among them, xix. 2-6 ; xxxii. 35 ; Ezek. xvi. 20; xx. and vexed their souls, as his fellow-towns- 26; xxiii. 37, etc.). Arguments have been men did the soul of "just Lot·• (2 Pet. ii. 7). brought forward to prove that the child was They "made wide the mouth" at them, and mer,·ly passed before a fire, or between "drew out the tongue" in derisi,>n (Mmp. two fires, and not burnt; but the evidence Pe. xxii. 7; xxxv. 21). The prophet asks, to the contrary is overwhelming (see the "Against whom do ye do this? Is it not article on ·• Moloch" in Dr. W. Smith's rather a.ga.inst God, whose servants these 'Dictionary of the Bible,' vol. ii. pp. 403, men a.re, than ag,i.inst them?" Are ye not 40!). The rite belonged especially to the ohildren of transgression! rather, are ye not, worship of Chemosh and Moloch by the yoursel-ou, children of apostasy 1 and there- Moe.bites and Ammonites (2 Kings iii. 27: fO'T'e mO'f'e truly objects of scorn than t:hev f Micah vi. 7), from whom it was adopted by A seed of falsehood, Idols were viewed by thl' Israelites (2 Kings xvii. 7) and Jews. Isaiah as" lies" (eh. xlv. 20; cf. Rom. i. 25; The sacrifice was supposed to be expiatory Rev. xx.ii. 15). Idolaters were therefore" a (Micah vi. 7). In the later times of the seed of falsehood "-men who put their trust Jewish kingdom the place of sacrifice was in a lie. the valley of Hinnom, west e.nd north of Ver. 5.-Inhming yourselves with idols Jerusalem, which is overhung by rugged 11J1der !!very green tree (oomp. eh. i. 29: rooks. 1:1:v. 8: 1:1:vi. 17: and see e.lso 2 Kings xvi Ver. 6.-Among the smooth stones of the 4 ; xvii 10: J er. ii. 20: iii 6, etc.). The stream is thy portion. Smooth stones, reference is, oe Mr. Cheyne says, to the rounded by water-action, were among the " orgiastic cults in the sacred groves of objects worshipped by many Semitic peoples. Palestinian heathenism." The nature of Such stones were called /30.l-rv>..o, or /3a.,-r/,. these cults is well stated by Professor Dol- >..,a.--Bethele, or" houses of God "-and re- linger ('Jew and :Gentile,' vol i. p. 430): ceived libations of oil and wine from their " At the spring festival, called by some the worshippers (see Gen. xxviii. 18: and comp. ' brand-feast,' by others that of torches, Herod., iii. 8; Arnob., 'Adv. Gentes,' i. 39 ; which was attended by streams of visi tore Lucian, 'Peeudomant.,' p. 30; Apul., p. 349; from ever; country, huge trees were burnt, etc.). Stones of this kind, the prophet says, with the offerings suspended on them. had now become " the portion " of Israel, Even children were sacrificed ; they were instead of Jehovah (Pe. cxix. 57: comp. Pa. put into a lee.them bag, and thrown the xvi 5), To such objects they offered their whole height of the temple to the bottom, "meat oft'erings" and "drink offerings." with the shocking expression that they were Should I reoeive comfort in theae l Can I, calves, and not children. In the fore-court Jehovah, be comforted, when my people in- stood two gigantic phalli. To the exciting dulge in such pre.cticee 1 din of drums, fiotes, and inspired songs, the Ver. 7.-Upon a lofty and high mo'lllltain Galli cut themselves on the arms: and the hast thou set thy bed. Instead of reserving effect of this act, and of the music accom- thy marriage-bed for me, Jehovah (eh. liv. panying it, was so strong upon mere specta- 5), thou hast set it up on those " high tors, that all their bodily and mental powers ple.cee," with which the hill-tops of Judma were thrown into a tumult of excitement: a.re everywhere crowned (see 1 Kings xiv. and they too, seized by the desire to lacerate 23; xvi. 4: 2 Chron. xxxiii. 17: Ezek. xv. themselves, deprived themselves of their 16, etc.). Almost every hill-top is still, in manhood by means of pot.sherds lying ready a sense, held sacred in Po.Jestine (Conder, in for the purpose." Slaying the ohildren in • Quarterly Statement of Palest. Explor. the valley& under the cleftll of the rockll. Fund,' 1875, p. 39). Even thither wentest The sacrifice of their children to Moloch thou up, etc. (On the pereietency of the was largely practised by the Jews in the Jews in maintaining the high-place worship, later period of the kingdom of Judah. It see l Kings xiv. 23; xv. 14; xxii. 43; Beems to have been originally introduced by 2 Kings xii. 8; xiv. 4 : xv. 4: xxi. 8, eto.) tlie superstitious Ahaz, the father of Heze- The beet kings failed in their attempts to kiah, who " made hie son to pass through put it down tlie me, according to the abominations of Ver. 8.-Behind the doon also and the tile heathen " (2 Kings xvi. 3 : 2 Ohron. posts hast thou ■et np thy remembranoe, U •viiL 3). Suspended during the reign of has been usual to explain this of e. removal ller.ekiah. it wu renewed under Mall8.8seh, from its proper place into an obscure po■i- en. LVII. 1-21.] TilE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHE'l' ISAIAH. 857