Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 17:2 (Fall 2013)
Article: Canaanite Child Sacrifice, Abortion, And The Bible
Author: Henry Boynton Smith

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JMAT 17:2 (Fall 2013) p. 90

Canaanite Child Sacrifice, Abortion, And The Bible

Henry B. Smith, Jr.

Director of Development
Associates for Biblical Research, Akron, PA

Introduction

History is replete with civilizations that have held morally repugnant attitudes concerning infants and children. The Nazis carried Jewish children off to killing fields and the gas chambers at Auschwitz. The Aztecs and Mayans sacrificed both children and adults to their gods. Exposing an unwanted child to the elements or wild animals was a common practice throughout the Greco-Roman world. The Carthaginians of North Africa sacrificed their infants and children to pagan gods over a period of several centuries.

Old Testament passages referring to child sacrifice are both numerous and dreadful. The Israelites, delivered from the bondage of Egypt by the mighty hand of Yahweh, the Lord of heaven and earth, did not simply engage in idolatry. They were guilty of adopting the ghastly Canaanite practice of child sacrifice. In some cases, they attempted to attach this practice to worship of the Lord (Ezek 23:39). In others, they rejected Yahweh worship altogether and fully turned themselves over to the idols of Canaan (2 Kgs 17:14–17). Kings Ahaz and Manasseh, the “shepherds of Israel,” even burned their own sons in the fires of sacrifice (2 Chr 28:2–3; 33:6). Certain Israelites stood by and did nothing (Lev 20:4–5). Despite manifold warnings and admonitions from the Lord (Deut 12:29–31; 18:10), the Israelites persisted. As a result, God brought dreadful judgment upon their entire nation (Jer 19:3b-6).

The present author has several purposes in mind in writing this article. First, this article will attempt to connect the practice of child sacrifice at ancient Carthage to the Canaanite mainland, both culturally and geographically (near and in Israel proper).

JMAT 17:2 (Fall 2013) p. 91

This will be done through archaeological evidence and the testimonies of ancient authors. This evidence offers apologetic support for the veracity of the biblical references, which will also be discussed. Second, this paper will discuss recent scholarly attempts to deny that child sacrifice took place at Carthage, a position that the author believes is without warrant. Third, this article will survey the unnerving parallels between child sacrifice and modern-d...

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