^31 (A) At Topheth in Hinnom Valley you have built altars where you kill your children and burn them as sacrifices to other gods. I would never think of telling you to do this.

Jeremiah and the Clay Jar

19 The Lord said:

Jeremiah, go to the pottery shop and buy a clay jar. Then take along some of the city officials and leading priests ^2 (A) and go to Hinnom Valley, just outside Potsherd^[a] Gate. Tell the people that I have said:

³ I am the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, and you kings of Judah and you people of Jerusalem had better pay attention. I am going to bring so much trouble on this valley that everyone who hears about it will be shocked. ^4-5 (B) The people of Judah stopped worshiping me and made this valley into a place of worship for Baal and other gods that have never helped them or their ancestors or their kings. And they have committed murder here, burning their young, innocent children as sacrifices to Baal. I have never even thought of telling you to do that. ⁶ So watch out! Someday this place will no longer be called Topheth or Hinnom Valley. It will be called Slaughter Valley!

^35 (A) And they led Judah into sin by building places to worship Baal in Hinnom Valley, where they also sacrificed their sons and daughters to the god Molech. I have never even imagined they would commit such disgusting sins.

^21 (A) Don't sacrifice your children on the altar fires to the god Molech. I am the Lord your God, and that would disgrace me.