<snip>Interesting point at the end here. One can certainly imagine the animistically minded or "superstitious" Israelites expecting the wrath of Chemosh/Molech to come upon them at this point, falling into a panic because of the expectation, and then interpreting that panic as caused by that god's wrath. This, and the resultant defeat, would have weakened their faith in YHWH and encouraged them to believe in the efficacy of human sacrifice.
Kings Ahaz and Manasseh of Israel later turned themselves to the worship of
the "abomination of the Moabites", causing their sons to pass through the fire
(obtulit holocaustum) to Molech (2 Kings 16:3; 17:17). This caused YHWH to put
an end to the Ten Tribes (2 Kings 17:18). So did this sacrifice of the
heir-apparent win the spiritual battle, and turn the Ten Tribes of Israel to
the worship of Chemosh/Molech?
Ben (only asking questions)
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