Biblical Hebrew Forum

[RGmyrken AT aol.com]

    The testimony of Theophrastus, in the essay _On Piety_ c. 315 BCE, that 
"Syrians, of whom the Jews constitute a part" offered live sacrifices, 
including human sacrifices, is perhaps relevant.  This is also echoed in Is. 
57:5; Jer.  7:31; 19:5; 32:35; Ezek. 16:20-21; 23:37-39, suggesting that the 
practice continued in Syria and Judea far later than commonly believed.  
Among what segments of society the practice persisted is obscure.  But the 
Biblical traditions of sacrifices in the patriarchal and judges ages may 
demonstrate that it was still a live issue in later period when the Biblical 
texts were composed.

Best regards,
Russell Gmirkin