Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

MOLOCH (aka Molech; Mulach)

Moloch or Molech is a corrupt form of the Hebrew terms "melek" or "malek" ("MLK"), meaning "king." Molech is a spelling found in English translations of the Bible and it appears as Mulach in some grimoires. Molech was synonymous with the Hebrew god Moloch of the Vetus Testamentum to whom the Israelite children were sacrificed.

Moloch or Molech appears in the Bible in Acts 7:43, Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 20:2-4, Jeremiah 32:35, 1 Kings 11:7, and 2 Kings 23:10. The Bible describes Moloch as a god of the ancient Phoenicians and Ammonites to whom children were sacrificed by burning. It was used as a derogatory title for gods the ancient Hebrews considered Pagan, but was apparently specifically used in reference to the God Baal-Hammon of Carthage (see BAAL), a fertility God whose consort was the moon Goddess Tanit.

Human sacrifices were offered to Moloch, mainly firstborn children, the victims were slowly burned to death in the outstretched arms of this idol, which were metal, hollow and could be heated on the inside. Some say they fell into the fire below. Manasech offered his son to Molech. Solomon erected an altar to this god on one of the summits of Mount Olivet.(1 Kings 11:7)

This idol worshipping continued there and in Tophet until Josiah abolished it and defiled the altars. (2 Kings 23:30) Molech was also worshipped in Carthage, where at one times about 200 little boys were sacrificed in hopes of saving that city from siege.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc