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The Hinnom Valley was the traditional southern boundary of the ancient city of Jerusalem. It is identified in Scripture as “the valley of the Son of Hinnom” (Joshua 15:8; 18:16). It is also mentioned as a landmark, setting the boundary between the territories of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
The Hinnom Valley comes through the western side of the city before turning east and merging into the Kidron Valley. The confluence of the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys is very near the location of En Rogel, which we read about in 1 Kings 1.
As time went on, the Hinnom Valley would become associated with some of the most horrible acts of wickedness in Israel's history. For example:
They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. Jeremiah 32:35
Good King Josiah put an end to this when “he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.” 2nd Kings 23:10
Over time, the Valley of Hinnom began to serve as a figure and a name for eternal punishment itself—Gehenna.
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