The national god of AMMON — 'the abomination of the Ammonites' (1 Kings 11:5, 7) — whose worship Solomon's foreign wives brought to a high place east of Jerusalem, and whom Josiah later defiled (2 Kings 23:13). ⚠ Milcom, Malcam and Molech/Moloch are closely related names (all built on the root MLK, 'king'), and the same consonants can be read either as the god's name or as 'their king' — the ambiguity that runs through Amos 1:15, Zephaniah 1:5, and Jeremiah 49:1-3. MOLECH in particular is linked to child sacrifice 'passed through the fire' in the Valley of Hinnom (Leviticus 18:21; Jeremiah 32:35), the valley whose name (Ge-Hinnom) becomes GEHENNA, the New Testament word for hell. Zephaniah 1:5 condemns not the openly pagan but the hedgers who bow 'swearing by Jehovah AND swearing by Milcom' — a foot in each camp.