The Valleys of Jerusalem: Part 2 The Hinnom Valley

The Hinnom Valley (Hinnom in Hebrew means “hell”). It was in this valley that, in the 8th century BC, Canaanites and Jews sacrificed their children to the fiery god Molech, burning them alive. The current academic thought is that Molech/Moloch/Molok/Milcom idol worship began in Phoenicia. Nevertheless, Molech worship appeared in several locations across the southern Mediterranean area including in the Old Testament Kingdom of Judah. The wicked king Ahaz threw his son into the flames (2 Kings 16:3). Also the wicked king Manasseh made a burnt sacrifice of one of his sons to Molech (2 Kings 21:6).

During the time of Christ, the Hinnom Valley served as the Jerusalem city dump where the garbage was continually burning. Thus, Hinnom fire has been translated as hell’s continual fire. The correct translation of what Jesus said in the New Testament is Hinnom fire:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [A word suggesting contempt or derision in both Aramaic and Greek], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire [Hinnom fire].” Matthew 5:22.

The Hinnom Valley begins on the west side of Jerusalem and runs north to south, curving to run on the southern side of Jerusalem until it empties into the Kidron Valley on the east side of Jerusalem. It was in the southern portion of the Hinnom Valley where the burning garbage dump of Jerusalem was located.

The traditional site where Judas hung himself (Potter’s field) is on the southern slope of the Hinnom Valley (see Monastery of Aceldama).