He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in the LORD’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Fire, for purification, or as a holocaust to Moloch. See Calmet. 16:3.—Divination, or, “he observed times,” Arab. Mont.—Omens. Prot. “used enchantments,” ( Bible.) by means of brass or of serpents, and so forth Calmet.—Septuagint agrees with the Vulg. “he took notice of birds.” Bible.—Pythons. That is, diviners by spirits ( Ch). particularly by Apollo. He authorized and encouraged such ventriloquists, and so forth Leviticus 19:31.—Soothsayers, who inspected the entrails of victims, to foretell future things. Calmet.—Prot. “He dealt with familiar spirits and wizards.” Bible.