Hinnom in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
hin'-om (ge hinnom, Josh 15:8; 18:16; "valley of the son of
Hinnom" (ge bhen hinnom), Josh 15:8; 18:16; 2 Ch 28:3; 33:6;
Jer 7:31 f; 19:2,6; 32:35; "valley of the children (sons) of
Hinnom" (ge bhene hinnom), 2 Ki 23:10; or simply "the
valley," literally, the "hollow" or "ravine" (ha-gay'), 2 Ch
26:9; Neh 2:13,15; 3:13; Jer 31:40 and, perhaps also, Jer
2:23 (the above references are in the Hebrew text; there are
some variations in the Septuagint)): The meaning of "Hinnom"
is unknown; the expressions ben Hinnom and bene Hinnom would
suggest that it is a proper name; in Jer 7:32; 19:6 it is
altered by the prophet to "valley of slaughter," and
therefore some have thought the original name must have had
a pleasing meaning.
1. Bible References and History:
It was near the walls of Jerusalem, "by the entry of the
gate Harsith" (Jer 19:2); the Valley Gate opened into it
(Neh 2:13; 3:13). The boundary between Judah and Benjamin
ran along it (Josh 15:8; 18:16). It was the scene of
idolatrous practices in the days of Ahaz (2 Ch 28:3) and of
Manasseh, who "made his children to pass through the fire in
the valley of the son of Hinnom" (2 Ch 33:6), but Josiah in
the course of his reforms "defiled Topheth, which is in the
valley of the children (margin "son") of Hinnom, that no man
might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire
to Molech" (2 Ki 23:10). It was on account of these evil
practices that Jeremiah (7:32; 19:6) announced the change of
name. Into this valley dead bodies were probably cast to be
consumed by the dogs, as is done in the Wady er-Rababi
today, and fires were here kept burning to consume the
rubbish of the city. Such associations led to the Ge-Hinnom
(New Testament "Gehenna") becoming the "type of Hell"
(Milton, Paradise Lost, i, 405).
See GEHENNA.
2. Situation:
The Valley of Hinnom has been located...
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