Following a detailed outline of strict warnings and prohibitions, the focus shifts to the concrete punishments for these severe offenses [רוב הפרשנים]. The penalty for Molech worship is placed at the very top of this list because it represents an especially severe combination of idolatry, murderous cruelty, and a fundamental denial of God's providence over human sustenance and the continuation of offspring [ספורנו, העמק דבר].
The instruction to the Israelites regarding this crime is delivered with a notably gentle tone. This softer approach either serves to calmly explain the underlying logic and necessity of such a severe punishment [רש״ר הירש], or it reflects the unnatural reality of the crime itself. Such profound cruelty toward one's own child goes so deeply against human nature that a harsh, rigid command is deemed unnecessary; a mere warning suffices for what should be an exceedingly rare event [שפתי כהן]. The law applies universally to everyone living in the land, including converts, foreigners, women, and slaves, ensuring no one is exempt from its severity [אדרת אליהו, צפנת פענח].
The abominable practice of Molech involved handing children over to priests and passing them through fire. Commentators debate the exact nature of this ritual. Some describe it as a symbolic passing through flames, driven by superstitious fear that a child would die if not dedicated to the idol [רבנו בחיי, רד״צ הופמן]. Others understand it as a literal, horrific burning of the child alive, accompanied by the beating of drums to drown out the victim's screams [שפתי כהן, מלבי״ם].
A profound spiritual and legal distinction emerges regarding the extent of this crime. Earthly capital punishment applies only to an individual who sacrifices a portion of their children. In this scenario, execution by a human court serves as a form of atonement, as the sinner leaves behind surviving offspring who might still grow to serve God. However, if a person deepens their depravity and sacrifices all of their children, the sin becomes so unimaginably heavy that no human court can provide atonement. Consequently, such an individual is exempt from earthly execution. Instead, their judgment is handed directly to Heaven for eternal spiritual excision—a precise, measure-for-measure consequence for completely cutting off their own lineage [רבנו בחיי, צרור המור, נתינה לגר].
For those subject to human justice, the court formally sentences the offender to death [רש״י]. Yet, the responsibility to actually carry out the execution falls upon the general public. The primary approach among commentators suggests that if the court lacks the power, authority, or courage to enforce the penalty, the public is obligated to intervene and assist [רש״י, תורה תמימה]. Another perspective views the Molech worshiper as an active threat who drives away the Divine Presence and brings ruin to the land. Because this endangers the entire community, the public does not wait for drawn-out legal proceedings; instead, they act with zealous anger to swiftly eradicate the evil [העמק דבר, שפתי כהן, מיני תרגומא]. Furthermore, involving the public highlights the deep, intrinsic bond between the nation and its soil. The land was created for this people, and they will only merit inheriting it by actively maintaining its purity and purging it of such profound defilement [רש״י, גור אריה, רש״ר הירש].
The execution is carried out using a singular stone, a detail that carries deep moral and symbolic weight. If the offender dies from the impact of one large stone, it is considered sufficient. This reflects a desire to minimize the person's suffering, upholding the principle to love one's neighbor even during an execution [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם]. Alternatively, the use of a single, massive stone represents the intense outrage of the public, who seek to end the cruel perpetrator's life instantly rather than prolonging the process with multiple smaller stones [שפתי כהן]. Ultimately, the very act of throwing the sinner to the ground or crushing them with a stone symbolizes the rebellion of the earth itself. The land simply refuses to bear the weight of a human being who has corrupted the image of God in such a vile and unnatural manner [רש״ר הירש, רד״צ הופמן].