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Psalm 106:37
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
35but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works.
36They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
37Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
38They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.
39Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
Notice
Sons and daughters become victims of sacrifice to demons in Israel’s history, exposing the horror of idol worship that took children’s lives.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do you notice about the children being named as “their sons and their daughters”?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
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2 Kings 17:17They caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the …Both passages recount parents sacrificing their own children, with Kings naming fire and the evil of these acts in God’s sight.
2 Kings 16:3But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD …Both accounts connect the sacrifice of children with following the practices of the surrounding nations.
Jeremiah 7:31They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I didn’t …Both passages name sons and daughters as victims of sacrifice; Jeremiah states that God never commanded their burning.
Deuteronomy 32:17They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods that they didn’t know, to new gods that came up recently, which your fathers didn’t dread.Both texts identify demons as the recipients of sacrifices, with Deuteronomy distinguishing those sacrifices from worship of God.
Leviticus 17:7They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their …Leviticus forbids sacrifices to goat idols, while the psalm recounts sacrifices to demons within its account of idol worship.
Deuteronomy 12:30–31be careful that you are not ensnared to follow them after they are destroyed from before you, and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, “How do these …Deuteronomy warns against being ensnared by the nations’ worship; the psalm’s surrounding lines recount that snare taking hold.
Ezekiel 23:37For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have also caused their sons, whom they bore …Both passages connect idol worship with the killing of people’s own children, and both accounts name the shedding of blood.
Ezekiel 16:20–21“‘“Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution …Both passages name sons and daughters sacrificed by their parents; Ezekiel adds that these children had been borne to God.
Ezekiel 20:26I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they …Both passages recount the offering of children, with Ezekiel describing the firstborn passing through fire and the psalm naming demons.
1 Corinthians 10:20But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I don’t desire that you would have fellowship with demons.Both texts name demons as recipients of sacrifices; Paul warns against fellowship with demons through such worship.
2 Kings 21:6He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much …Both passages recount the sacrifice of a parent’s own child, with Kings describing fire and God’s anger at the evil.
Deuteronomy 18:10There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an …Deuteronomy forbids making a son or daughter pass through fire; the psalm recounts the sacrifice of sons and daughters.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
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Encouragement
God’s Word records the deaths of these children without excusing the people who sacrificed them. Their blood is named as innocent.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).