By perverted conceptions of divine attributes, heathen nations were led to believe human sacrifices necessary to secure the favor of their deities; and the most horrible cruelties have been perpetrated under the various forms of idolatry. Among these was the practice of causing their children to pass through the fire before their idols. When one of them came through this ordeal unharmed, the people believed that their offerings were accepted; the one thus delivered was regarded as specially favored by the gods, was loaded with benefits, and ever afterward held in high esteem; and however aggravated his crimes, he was never punished. But should one be burned in passing through the fire, his fate was sealed; it was believed that the anger of the gods could be appeased only by taking the life of the victim, and he was accordingly offered as a sacrifice. In times of great apostasy these abominations prevailed, to some extent, among the Israelites.

På grund af en forvrænget opfattelse af Guds egenskaber troede de hedenske folk, at det var nødvendigt at ofre mennesker for at sikre deres guders gunst, og de frygteligste grusomheder er blevet begået under forskellige former for afgudsdyrkelse. En af disse bestod i at lade børnene gå gennem ild foran afguderne. Hvis et af børnene kom uskadt gennem denne ildprøve, troede folket, at deres ofringer var antaget. Den, der således gik fri, blev betragtet som gudernes yndling, overøst med gunstbevisninger og altid holdt højt i ære efter den tid. Han blev aldrig straffet, selv for de mest graverende forbrydelser. Men hvis en blev forbrændt, når han gik igennem ilden, var hans skæbne beseglet. Man troede, at gudernes vrede kun kunne stilles ved, at man dræbte den ulykkelige, og han blev derfor bragt som offer. I de perioder, hvor Israels frafald var stort, gik disse afskyelige skikke i nogen grad i svang blandt dem.