ירמיהו, פרק ל״ב, פסוק ל״ה

The spiritual collapse of the people did not happen in the shadows. Bustling, public centers of idol worship were established right outside Jerusalem, culminating in the horrific practice of child sacrifice. The people built altars specifically dedicated to Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary purpose of these high places was to pass their children through the fire as an offering to the idol Molech [מצודת דוד].

In response to these terrible acts, God makes it clear that He never commanded such atrocities, nor did the thought of asking for child sacrifice ever enter His mind [מצודת דוד]. To stress the absolute severity of this betrayal and how completely removed it is from His will, this strong declaration is repeated three separate times throughout the book of Jeremiah [רד״ק].

What makes this practice even more shocking is the motive behind it. The people did not perform these rituals out of a misguided belief that they would gain some personal benefit. Rather, their actions were driven by pure rebellion. They sacrificed their children with the explicit intention of causing the nation of Judah to sin and purposely angering God [מצודת דוד].