Jer 19:2, 6, 13-14, 32:35 | JFB | STEP | 2. valley of the son of Hinnom-- or Tophet, south of Jerusalem, where human victims were offered, and children made to pass through the fire, in honor of Molech. east gate-- Margin, "sun gate," sunrise being in the east. Maurer translates, the "potter's gate." Through it lay the road to the valley of Hinnom ( ). The potters there formed vessels for the use of the temple, which was close by (compare , ; ; ). The same as "the water gate toward the east" ( ; ); so called from the brook Kedron. Calvin translates, as English Version and Margin. "It was monstrous perversity to tread the law under foot in so conspicuous a place, over which the sun daily rising reminded them of the light of God's law."

‏ Jeremiah 19:2

2. valley of the son of Hinnom--or Tophet, south of Jerusalem, where human victims were offered, and children made to pass through the fire, in honor of Molech.

east gate--Margin, "sun gate," sunrise being in the east. Maurer translates, the "potter's gate." Through it lay the road to the valley of Hinnom (Jos 15:8). The potters there formed vessels for the use of the temple, which was close by (compare Jr 19:10, 14; Jr 18:2; Zec 11:13). The same as "the water gate toward the east" (Ne 3:26; 12:37); so called from the brook Kedron. Calvin translates, as English Version and Margin. "It was monstrous perversity to tread the law under foot in so conspicuous a place, over which the sun daily rising reminded them of the light of God's law."

‏ Jeremiah 19:6

6. no more ... Tophet--from Hebrew, toph, "drum"; for in sacrificing children to Molech drums were beaten to drown their cries. Thus the name indicated the joy of the people at the fancied propitiation of the god by this sacrifice; in antithesis to its joyless name subsequently.

valley of slaughter--It should be the scene of slaughter, no longer of children, but of men; not of "innocents" (Jr 19:4), but of those who richly deserved their fate. The city could not be assailed without first occupying the valley of Hinnom, in which was the only fountain: hence arose the violent battle there.

‏ Jeremiah 19:13-14

13. shall be defiled--with dead bodies (Jr 19:12; 2Ki 23:10).

because of all the houses--Rather, (explanatory of the previous "the houses ... and ... houses"), "even all the houses," &c. [Calvin].

roofs--being flat, they were used as high places for sacrifices to the sun and planets (Jr 32:29; 2Ki 23:11, 12; Zep 1:5). The Nabateans, south and east of the Dead Sea, a nation most friendly to the Jews, according to Strabo, had the same usage.

14. court of the Lord's house--near Tophet; the largest court, under the open air, where was the greatest crowd (2Ch 20:5).

‏ Jeremiah 32:35

35. cause ... pass through ... fire--By way of purification, they passed through with bare feet (Le 18:21).

Molech--meaning "king"; the same as Milcom (1Ki 11:33).

I commanded ... not--This cuts off from the superstitious the plea of a good intention. All "will-worship" exposes to God's wrath (Col 2:18, 23).