Joshua 15:8

King James Version (KJV)

And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

The valley of the son of Hinnom - Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called his valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; and is often mentioned in Scripture. The image of the idol Molech appears to have been set up there; and there the idolatrous Israelites caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire in honor of that demon, 2 Kings 23:10. It was also called Tophet, see Jeremiah 7:32. When King Josiah removed the image of this idol from this valley, it appears to have been held in such universal execration, that it became the general receptacle of all the filth and impurities which were carried out of Jerusalem; and it is supposed that continual fires were there kept up, to consume those impurities and prevent infection. From the Hebrew words הנם בן גי gei ben Hinnom, the valley of the son of Hinnom, and by contraction, הנם גי gei Hinnom, the valley of Hinnom, came the Γεεννα, Gehenna of the New Testament, called also Γεεννα του πυρος, the Gehenna of fire, which is the emblem of hell, or the place of the damned. See Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9, etc. In the East it is common to add the name of the father to that of the son, e.g., "This land belongs to Goborka the son of Kake Prusada." But this addition is not made till after the father's death. This custom prevailed also in the west. It is common among the aborigines of both Ireland and Wales.

The same is Jerusalem - This city was formerly called Jebus; a part of it was in the tribe of Benjamin; Zion, called its citadel, was in the tribe of Judah.

The valley of the giants - Of the Rephaim. See the notes on Genesis 6:4; Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 2:7, Deuteronomy 2:11. On this subject, a very intelligent clergyman favors me with his opinion in the following terms: -

"The boundary between Judah and Benjamin went up from the valley of Hinnom on the east to the top of the hill southward, leaving Jebusi (or Jerusalem) to the northwest adjoining to Benjamin. This mount (Jebusi) lay between the two tribes, which the Jebusites possessed till the time of David. At the 63d verse here, it is said Judah could not drive out these people; and in Judges 1:21, the same is said of the Benjamites. Each tribe might have attacked them at various times. There were various mounts or tops to these hills. Mount Zion and Moriah, where the temple stood, was in the tribe of Judah; Psalm 78:68, Psalm 78:69; Psalm 87:2. "In Deuteronomy 33:12; it is said of Benjamin, the Lord shall dwell by him, i.e., near him, or beside his borders, between his shoulders; the line might be circular between the two hills or tops so as in part to encompass Mount Zion in the tribe of Judah, on which the temple stood. Benjamin's gate, (mentioned Jeremiah 37:12, Jeremiah 37:13; Jeremiah 38:7;), was the gate leading out of the city, into the tribe of Benjamin. So the gate of Ephraim, ( 2 Kings 14:13;), was a gate which led towards the tribe of Ephraim. We give names to roads, etc., in the same way now. "Mount Calvary, (which was on the outside of the gate), seems to have been in the tribe of Benjamin. Query. Whether Calvary or Golgotha was so called from skulls being scattered about there, (as say some), or rather from the figure of the rock being shaped like a man's skull, with one face of it nearly perpendicular? I incline to this latter opinion. I believe the Jews did not suffer human bones, even of malefactors, to lie about." - J. C.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

The valley of the son of Hinnom - This valley begins on the west of Jerusalem at the road to Joppa, and turning southeastward round the foot of Mount Zion joins the deeper valley of Kedron on the south of the city. It was in this ravine, more particularly at Tophet in the more wild and precipitous part of it toward the east, that the later kings of Judah offered the sacrifices of children to Moloch (2 Chronicles 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:6, etc.). After these places had been defiled by Josiah, Tophet and the whole valley of Hinnom were held in abomination by the Jews, and the name of the latter was used to denote the place of eternal torment Matthew 5:22. The Greek term Gehenna ( γεέννα geenna ) is in fact formed from the Hebrew הנם גיא gay' hı̂nnôm “valley of Hinnom.” Hinnom is regarded either as the name of some ancient hero, or as an appellative (“groaning” or “moaning”), bestowed on the spot because of the cries of the victims here offered to Moloch, and of the drums with which those cries were drowned.

The valley of the giants - Rather “the plain of Rephaim.” This plain, named after an ancient and gigantic tribe of the land Genesis 14:5, lies southwestward of Jerusalem, and is terminated by a slight rocky ridge forming the brow of the valley of Hinnom. The valley is fertile Isaiah 17:5 and broad, and has been on more than one occasion the camping ground for armies operating against Jerusalem 2 Samuel 5:18, 2 Samuel 5:22; 2 Samuel 23:13.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Joshua allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh, their inheritances before they left Gilgal. Afterwards removing to Shiloh, another survey was made, and the other tribes had their portion assigned. In due time all God's people are settled.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

8. Valley of the son of Hinnom. Sometimes called merely “the Valley of Hinnom.” From the Hebrew of this term ge hinnom, is derived the Greek word gehenna, which is translated “hell” in the KJV (Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; (James 3:6). The place is of evil repute in Scripture from the sacrifices, including children, offered there to Molech, and from the defilement of its high place by Josiah (2 Kings 23:10), and from the fact that Jerusalem’s offal was later burned there. The word Hinnom is most often thought to be the name of a man to whom the valley once belonged. But some have suggested that the word may also come from an obsolete word which means “weeping,” or “moaning,” and that such a designation would be appropriate in the light of the valley’s being the scene of the sacrifice of so many innocent children (see 2 Kings 23:10; Jer. 7:31). After King Josiah removed the image from this valley, and defiled the high place, the valley appears to have become the general receptacle of filth and refuse that were carried out of Jerusalem, and so was held in universal execration. It is supposed that continual fires were there kept burning to consume these impurities and prevent infection. The valley was south and west of Jerusalem, meeting the valley of Kidron at the southeast corner of the city where En-rogel was situated.

South side of the Jebusite. Literally, “shoulder of the Jebusite,” likely with reference to the ridge or plateau on which the Jebusite city was situated. Since the border ran to the south of Jerusalem, the city was left in the territory of Benjamin.

Top of the mountain. The phrase in its context reads literally, “the head of the mountain, which faces the valley of Hinnom, toward the west.”

Valley of the giants. Also called “valley of Rephaim” (2 Sam. 5:18). This valley runs south toward Bethlehem from the southwest corner of the city of Jerusalem. The region was very fertile and a prize possession sought for by the enemies attacking Jerusalem. The valley was twice the scene of defeat for the Philistines (2 Sam. 5:18-22; 23:13; 1 Chron. 11:15; 14:9).

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Patriarchs and Prophets, 703

As soon as David was established on the throne of Israel he began to seek a more appropriate location for the capital of his realm. Twenty miles from Hebron a place was selected as the future metropolis of the kingdom. Before Joshua had led the armies of Israel over Jordan it had been called Salem. Near this place Abraham had proved his loyalty to God. Eight hundred years before the coronation of David it had been the home of Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. It held a central and elevated position in the country and was protected by an environment of hills. Being on the border between Benjamin and Judah, it was in close proximity to Ephraim and was easy of access to the other tribes. PP 703.1

In order to secure this location the Hebrews must dispossess a remnant of the Canaanites, who held a fortified position on the mountains of Zion and Moriah. This stronghold was called Jebus, and its inhabitants were known as Jebusites. For centuries Jebus had been looked upon as impregnable; but it was besieged and taken by the Hebrews under the command of Joab, who, as the reward of his valor, was made commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel. Jebus now became the national capital, and its heathen name was changed to Jerusalem. PP 703.2

Hiram, king of the wealthy city of Tyre, on the Mediterranean Sea, now sought an alliance with the king of Israel, and lent his aid to David in the work of erecting a palace at Jerusalem. Ambassadors were sent from Tyre, accompanied by architects and workmen and long trains laden with costly wood, cedar trees, and other valuable material. PP 703.3

The increasing strength of Israel in its union under David, the acquisition of the stronghold of Jebus, and the alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, excited the hostility of the Philistines, and they again invaded the country with a strong force, taking up their position in the valley of Rephaim, but a short distance from Jerusalem. David with his men of war retired to the stronghold of Zion, to await divine direction. “And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” PP 703.4

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Cross References

valley of the son