Jeremiah 7:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The high places of Tophet— The valley of Hinnom, or of the son of Hinnom, was near Jerusalem, and was the scene of those horrid sacrifices which the Israelites, in imitation of their idolatrous neighbours, made of their Children to Moloch. Tophet was the particular spot in the valley where the fires were made, into which the poor innocent victims were thrown; and is supposed to have derived its name from the drums and tabrets, which were beaten in order to drown the children's cries. The high places, במות bamoth, were in all probability artificial mounts, or tumuli, thrown up about the place for the purpose of performing some of the rites with which these sacrifices were accompanied; or from which the persons assembled might command a view of the dreadful spectacle.