A great part of the valley of Kedron was called also the ‘Valley of Hinnom.’ Jeremiah, going forth into the valley of Hinnom, went out by the gate “Hacharsith, the Sun-gate,” Jeremiah 19:2; that is, the Rabbins and others being interpreters, ‘by the East-gate.’ For thence was the beginning of the valley of Hinnom, which, after some space, bending itself westward, ran out along the south side of the city.
There is no need to repeat those very many things, which are related of this place in the Old Testament; they are historical. The mention of it in the New is only mystical and metaphorical, and is transferred to denote the place of the damned. Under the second Temple, when those things were vanished, which had set an eternal mark of infamy upon this place, to wit, idolatry, and the howlings of infants roasted to Moloch,—yet so much of the filthiness, and of the abominable name remained, that even now it did as much bear to the life the representation of hell, as it had done before.
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Author: John Lightfoot
Keywords: Gehinnom, Valley of the Son of Hinnom, Moloch, Hinnom, valley of Ben-Hinnom, Valley of Hinnom, Gehenna, Ge Hinnom, Sons of Hinnom, Kedron, Kidron, Kedron Valley, Brook Kedron, Brook Kidron, Kidron Brook, Kedron Brook, Kidron Valley, Hell, Hades, Gehena, Eternal punishment, Everlasting punishment, Burn in hell, Punishment in hell, Punished in hell, Hell fire, Hellfire, Eternal fire, Everlasting fire
Bible reference(s): Joshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16, 2 Kings 23:10, 2 Chronicles 28:3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Nehemiah 11:30, Jeremiah 7:31, Jeremiah 7:32, Jeremiah 19:2, Jeremiah 19:6, Jeremiah 32:35, 2 Esdras 2:29, Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 18:9, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:33, Mark 9:43, Mark 9:45, Mark 9:47, Luke 12:5, James 3:6
Source: A Commentary of the New Testament from the Talmud and Hebraica (1658), Chapter 39.
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