49: Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech

The Book of Knowledge
Laws of Idolatry and Paganism
Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech (Lev. 19:31)

CW: reference to school shootings

Historical Context: While there is debate as to what “Molech” means in the Torah, traditionally it has been understood as a god that is worshipped through child sacrifice, or the act of sacrificing a child on a pyre.

            a HUSBAND and WIFE watch the news on TV

            on their wall are dozens and dozens of mounted firearms

            the wall of guns seems to stretch on forever

            they watch in silence

WIFE
just awful

HUSBAND
i know

            they watch in silence

WIFE
how could someone do that?
an elementary school?

HUSBAND
i know

            they watch in silence

WIFE
those poor families
those poor kids

HUSBAND
i know

            they watch in silence

WIFE
don’t forget to sign Annie’s permission slip for her field trip

HUSBAND
i know

WIFE
they’re going to the aquarium
she wants to see an octopus
            she stands
i’m running to the market
we’re out of coffee beans

HUSBAND
i know

            the WIFE grabs a handgun that is mounted on the wall

            she feeds bullets into the chamber

            she locks it

            puts it in a holster that she was already wearing

WIFE
see you when i’m back

            WIFE exits

            HUSBAND picks up a shotgun from the floor hidden by the coffee table

            he polishes the gun as he watches the news in silence

HUSBAND
            to himself
world’s gone crazy

            he keeps watching

            END OF PLAY