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Isaiah 30:33
For Tophetis ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath madeit deepand large: the pile thereofis fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Jeremiah 7:31,32
And they have built the high places of Tophet, whichis in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commandedthem not, neither came it into my heart…

Jeremiah 19:6,11-13
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter…

Tophet.

Joshua 15:8
And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the sameis Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain thatlieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, whichis at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

2 Chronicles 28:3
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

2 Chronicles 33:6
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

might make.

2 Kings 16:3
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.

2 Kings 17:17
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

2 Kings 21:6
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provokehim to anger.

in the Valley of Ben-hinnom
The Valley of Ben-hinnom, located south of Jerusalem, was notorious for its association with idolatrous practices, particularly child sacrifice. This valley later became synonymous with Gehenna, a term used in the New Testament to describe hell or a place of eternal punishment (Mark 9:43). The transformation of this valley from a place of abomination to a symbol of divine judgment underscores the severity of the practices that occurred there.

so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter
Child sacrifice was a detestable practice condemned by God (Leviticus 18:21). The prohibition against sacrificing children highlights the sanctity of life and the abhorrence of such acts in the eyes of God. Josiah's reforms aimed to eradicate these practices, emphasizing a return to the worship of Yahweh alone. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that values children as a blessing from God (Psalm 127:3).

in the fire to Molech
Molech was a Canaanite deity associated with child sacrifice. The worship of Molech involved passing children through fire, a practice explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 20:2-5). The mention of Molech serves as a reminder of the cultural and religious influences that Israel was warned against. Josiah's actions to stop these sacrifices were a fulfillment of the covenantal call to be distinct from surrounding nations (Exodus 23:24).

King Josiah’s reform moves beyond removing idols; he actively renders an infamous site unusable for pagan worship.

•2 Kings 23:4-9 records earlier steps—burning Asherah, deposing idolatrous priests—showing Josiah’s zeal for covenant faithfulness (see also 2 Chron 34:3-5).

• By “desecrating,” he defiles the place so thoroughly that no future worshiper would consider it sacred (compare1 Kings 13:2 for a prophecy of such defilement).

• The action fulfills Deuteronomy’s mandate to “destroy…break down…burn” every trace of false worship (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).

Topheth was the furnace-like altar where children were burned.

• Jeremiah uses identical language: “They have built the high places of Topheth…to burn their sons and daughters in the fire” (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:6).

• Its very name became synonymous with horror and judgment; Josiah’s destruction removes both the structure and the stigma for the people who feared it.

• The king’s decisiveness illustrates the seriousness with which God views any practice that devalues human life (Psalm 106:37-38).

This ravine south of Jerusalem became a symbol of ultimate defilement.

•Joshua 15:8 first marks the valley’s location; by Josiah’s day it is infamous.

• Jeremiah later prophesies that the valley will be renamed the “Valley of Slaughter” because of the coming Babylonian siege (Jeremiah 19:2-7), underscoring that sin invites judgment.

• In the New Testament, its Aramaic form “Gehenna” pictures final punishment (Matthew 5:22;Mark 9:43), linking Josiah’s purge to eternal realities.

The goal is prevention: never again should parents offer their children to a false god.

• God had already forbidden this abomination: “You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech” (Leviticus 18:21; cf. 20:2-5).

• Molech worship appealed to fear and misguided hopes for prosperity; Josiah eliminates the temptation by eradicating the venue.

•Deuteronomy 12:31 condemns the practice as something the LORD “hates,” andJeremiah 32:35 reminds us that child sacrifice “never entered My mind,” highlighting its utter incompatibility with God’s character.

• By acting, Josiah protects the most vulnerable and models righteous civil leadership (Romans 13:3-4 offers a New-Covenant echo of governing authority restraining evil).

2 Kings 23:10 shows Josiah taking tangible, courageous steps to stamp out one of Israel’s darkest sins—child sacrifice to Molech. By desecrating Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom, he fulfills God’s law, safeguards future generations, and foreshadows the ultimate judgment reserved for willful rebellion. The verse challenges believers to confront sin decisively, protect life, and honor the holiness of God.

The valley of the children of Hinnom.--Elsewhere called "the valley of the son of Hinnom," and "the valley of Hinnom (Joshua 15:8;Jeremiah 7:31-32). Simonis plausibly explained the wordHinnom as meaningshrieking or moaning (from the Arabichanna, arguta voce gemuit, flevit). "The valley of the sons of shrieking" would be a good name for the accursed spot. (Thenius suggestsWimmer-Kinds-Thal.) . . .