Verse 31
31. High places of Tophet The word for “high places” is not the same which has been repeatedly so translated in this book, as in Jeremiah 7:29, but rather high altars. It applies to those artificial shrines raised for Baal worship at Jerusalem. Some have thought that the word “Tophet” is to be used here not as a proper noun, but an epithet abomination. But the reasons given are not conclusive. It is better to regard it here, as elsewhere, as simply the name for a definite locality. For the genesis of the word, see the dictionaries.
Valley of the son of Hinnom The origin of this designation is not known. Probably it came from some ancient hero of whose exploits this name is the only memorial. It is first used in the book of Joshua.
To burn their sons and their daughters See Jeremiah 19:6; Jeremiah 32:35; Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2-5; and Ezekiel 16:20-21. This burning was literal, though, as would appear from Ezekiel, the victims were slain before being burned. They “caused their children to pass through the fire” in order to purify them and fit them for eternal bliss.
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