Bible Dictionaries
Milcom

Holman Bible Dictionary

(mihl' cahm) Name of deity meaning, “king” or “their king.” Apparently, a form created by Hebrew scribes to slander and avoid pronouncing the name of the national god of Ammon (1Kings 11:5,1 Kings 11:7 ), who may have been identified with Chemosh, the god of Moab. See 2 Samuel 12:30 ) of their king (KJV, NAS, NIV) or of the statue of the god Milcom (NRSV, REB; compare TEV). Solomon built sanctuaries to Milcom on the Mount of Olives at the request of his foreign wives, reviving the ancient cult (1Kings 11:5,1 Kings 11:33 ). The sites of Solomon's sanctuaries were destroyed and defiled during Josiah's reforms in 621 B.C. (2 Kings 23:13 ). Jeremiah described past accomplishments attributed to Milcom, but in a play on Judges 11:24 , he announced destruction and captivity for Milcom (Jeremiah 49:1 ,Jeremiah 49:1,49:3 NRSV, NAS, REB; compare NIV, TEV). Worshiping Milcom was turning one's back on Yahweh ( Zephaniah 1:5-6 ). See Molech .