Matthew Poole Commentary - Acts 7:43 - 7:43

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Acts 7:43 - 7:43


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Took up the tabernacle, on their shoulders, as they did the ark.



Of Moloch; the idol of the children of Ammon, which the Israelites were especially forbidden to worship, Lev_18:21 20:2 yet they did ordinarily worship him, 2Ch_28:3 Jer_7:31 and there was a high place built by Solomon for him, 1Ki_11:7.



The tabernacle of Moloch was either a chest or press in which that idol was put, or the chapels into which the worshippers of Moloch were admitted, according to the quality of the offering which they brought. Which of the planets they intended to honour hereby, whether the sun, or Mars, or Saturn, it matters not so much; any of these, or any other of their gods, might be called Moloch, taking the word appellatively.



Remphan, in the place here cited, is called by the prophet, Chiun; which is one and the same idol in both places, the prophet calling it by its name then in use; and St. Stephen, like unto the name the Septuagint had called it by: whether Saturn was intended by this, as some think, or Hercules, as others, it is not our present business to inquire.



Figures; images and representatives of the hosts of heaven, or of the planets.



Beyond Babylon; the prophet Amos saith, beyond Damascus, Amo_5:27: here St. Stephen does not contradict the prophet, for they who were carried away beyond Babylon must needs be carried away beyond Damascus, as the ten captive tribes were, unto whom this was threatened.