דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ח, פסוק ג׳

The spread of foreign worship into Judah brought with it severe idolatrous practices. At the center of this spiritual decline was the terrifying ritual of child sacrifice in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, a direct imitation of the abominations committed by the ancient nations. These rituals involved burning incense for ritual purposes or offering live sacrifices [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The most shocking aspect of this idolatry was the dedication of children specifically to the worship of Molech [מצודת דוד].

There are different understandings regarding the exact nature of how the children were subjected to the fire. One approach takes the events literally, concluding that the children were actually burned in a real fire [מצודת ציון]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that the children were not burned to death, but were merely passed through the flames as a symbolic offering [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, these acts were a direct continuation of the customs of the foreign nations that God had previously driven out of the land to make way for the Israelites [מצודת ציון].