BenHinnom

The Valley of Hinnom, also known as Gehenna, is a valley located in Jerusalem. Historically, it was a place of religious significance, particularly in ancient Israelite times. It is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a site where some Israelites practiced child sacrifice, particularly during the reigns of King Ahaz and King Manasseh, offering their children to the pagan deity Moloch. This practice was later condemned and put to an end by King Josiah.

Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, the Valley of Hinnom became associated with the disposal of refuse and the burning of corpses. This association with fire and death led to its symbolic representation in later Jewish and Christian traditions. In the New Testament, the Greek word Gehenna (derived from the Aramaic pronunciation of Hinnom) is used by Jesus as a metaphor for a place of punishment or hell, signifying eternal destruction.

The archaeological and historical evidence for its specific use as a place of continuous fire or sacrifice is debated among scholars, with some interpretations suggesting it was a more specific ritualistic site rather than a general dumping ground. However, its enduring legacy is tied to its biblical narratives and its subsequent theological interpretations as a symbol of condemnation and the afterlife. The valley itself is located southwest of the Old City of Jerusalem.