מלכים ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק י׳

King Josiah undertook a comprehensive campaign to eradicate idolatry, focusing heavily on abolishing the horrific worship of Molech. This gruesome practice took place in a valley situated just outside Jerusalem. The area was originally named after a man named Hinnom, who either owned the valley himself or whose sons possessed it [רד"ק, אברבנאל, מנחת שי]. Alternatively, the name Hinnom may have stemmed from the tragic sounds echoing from the valley, reflecting the agonized groans of the victims or the chants of the priests offering the sacrifice to the idol [רד"ק].

The specific epicenter of this worship within the valley was known as Topheth. The primary approach among commentators is that this name is derived from the Hebrew word for drums. During the sacrificial ceremony, the priests would beat drums with immense force to drown out the cries of the burning child. This deafening noise was a calculated measure to prevent the father from hearing his child's screams, ensuring that his natural mercy would not be awakened, which might otherwise cause him to regret his actions and attempt to rescue the child from their hands [רש"י, מצודת דוד, רד"ק, חומת אנך, אברבנאל].

There are two main perspectives regarding how this ritual of passing a child through the fire was performed. The straightforward understanding is that a designated structure was built where fires were ignited on two opposing sides. The priests would then ceremonially pass the child between the blazing bonfires [רלב"ג, אברבנאל, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, other traditions describe Molech as a hollow metal statue featuring the face of a calf and outstretched hands ready to receive the offering. This idol contained seven distinct compartments designed for various animal and grain sacrifices, with the seventh and most prestigious chamber reserved exclusively for children. A fire was lit inside the statue, heating the metal from within. The child was then placed directly onto the idol's glowing hands until they perished [רד"ק, אברבנאל].

Determined to put a permanent end to this atrocity, King Josiah took action to severely defile the site. Although Jewish law dictates that the earth itself cannot be inherently forbidden or permanently rendered impure, Josiah found a practical way to ruin the location. He transformed the entire valley into a massive garbage dump, filling it with animal carcasses and all forms of foul refuse. By making the area completely repulsive and deeply contaminated, he ensured that no one would ever again entertain the thought of returning there to sacrifice their children to Molech [מלבי"ם, רד"ק, אברבנאל, מצודת דוד].