The Valley of Topheth (7:30-34): God now explains the extent of Judah’s disgusting idolatry, bringing home the appropriateness of his judgment. For judgment against the practices performed in Topheth, see also Jeremiah 19.

7:30–31 The Judaeans had set up idols in the temple itself and they engaged in child sacrifice at a place called Topheth, located in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. This valley was immediately to the south and west of ancient Jerusalem. We do not know for certain what the word Topheth means or where it came from, but we do know that Josiah had desecrated this place earlier during his religious reforms (2 Kgs. 23:10–11). It had been a place where the foreign god Molech was worshiped. We presume that the place was rebuilt and put into practice probably during the reign of his apo…