Shoftim 18:10 · unit 1

TT #171 · Parashas Shoftim · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 18:10

The Complete Passuk

לֹֽא־יִמָּצֵ֣א בְךָ֔ מַעֲבִ֥יר בְּנֽוֹ־וּבִתּ֖וֹ בָּאֵ֑שׁ קֹסֵ֣ם קְסָמִ֔ים מְעוֹנֵ֥ן וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ וּמְכַשֵּֽׁף׃

There shall not be found among you one who passes his son or his daughter through the fire, a diviner of divinations, a soothsayer, a diviner by omens, or a sorcerer.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 64a–65a / Sifrei.

TT lemma: מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ.

Sefaria — Sanhedrin 64a–65a / Sifrei

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ – זֶה הַמֹּלֶךְ.

English: ‘One who passes his son or his daughter through the fire’ – this is Molech.

On the daf / in context: The classic identification of the prohibition with the Molech rite.

Type of Learning

Derash identifying the practice (Bavli / Sifrei) — the verse is the source for the prohibition of Molech worship.

What Is Learned

Passing a child through fire is identified with the worship of Molech and is absolutely forbidden.