Albert Barnes Commentary


Albert Barnes Commentary
"Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon." — 1 Kings 11:7 (ASV)
Chemosh (Numbers 21:29) seems to have been widely worshipped in Western Asia. His name occurs frequently on the “Moabite-Stone.” Car-Chemish, “the fort of Chemosh,” a great city of the northern Hittites, must have been under his protection. In Babylon, he seems to have been known as Chomus-belus, or Chemosh-Bel.
The hill - Olivet. At present, the most southern summit only (the “Mons Offensionis”) is pointed out as having been desecrated by the idol sanctuaries, but the early Eastern travelers tell us that in their time the most northern suburb was believed to have been the site of the high place of Chemosh, and the southern one that of Moloch only.