And they built the high places of Baal, which [are] in the valley of the son of Hinnom,.... Or "the high places of that Baal , which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom"; to distinguish him from other Baalim; and who seems to be the same with Molech after mentioned; and the signification of their names agree; the one is lord or master; the other king:to cause their sons and their daughters to pass [through the fire] unto Molech: the phrase, "through the fire", is not in the text; but is well enough supplied from other places, where it is.
Some think that their infants were not burnt to death with fire, but only were held over the flame by way of lustration; or were made to pass between two fires, and so were purified and dedicated to the idol:which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind that they should do this abomination; See Gill on "Jer 7:31";to cause Judah to sin; which Abarbinel understands of the children of Israel, who first began this practice, and seduced and drew the children of Judah into it; but rather it seems to intend the kings, princes, priests, prophets, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, who, by their example, led the people of the Lord into the same practice.