Milcom

Milcom [Hebrew malkam]. The national god of the Ammonites, mentioned in 1 Kgs 11:5, 33 and 2 Kgs 23:13. His name probably means “king.” The consonants mlkm may also be read “their king,” which creates ambiguity in some passages between the deity of the Ammonites and their human ruler (e.g., 2 Sam 12:30; Jer 49:1, 3; Zeph 1:5); the Septuagint reads “Milcom” in 2 Sam 12:30. Milcom was regarded as the power behind Ammonite territorial claims (Jer 49:1), and after David captured Rabbah, his statue and a 35-kilo golden crown were taken (1 Chr 20:2). Solomon promoted his worship under foreign influence (1 Kgs 11:5, 33), but Josiah later abolished it (2 Kgs 23:13). Prophetic texts depict Milcom/Malcam as a defeated god going into exile with his people (Amos 1:15; Jer 49:3). He is often associated with Molech or Moloch. Milcom (or Milkom) appears in Ammonite inscriptions and seals as the patron deity of the Ammonites. The name is also attested in texts from Ugarit (Ras Shamra), while Milk or Malk (“king”) occurs as a Phoenician divine name. See also Molech.