From the Encyclopedia Judaica
(Valley of Ben-Hinnom, Valley of [the Son(s) of Hinnom, Gehenna) a valley south of Jerusalem on one of the borders between the territories of Judah and Benjamin, between the Valley of Rephaim and En-Rogel (Josh. 15:8, 18:16). It is identified with Wadier-Rababi.
During the time of Monarchy, Gehinnom, at a place called Topheth, was the site of a cult which involved the burning of children (II Kings 23:10, Jer. 7:31 ; 32:35 et al; see Moloch). Jeremiah repeatedly rebuked this cult and predicted that on it’s account Tophet and the Valley of the Son of Hinnom would be called the valley of the “slaughter” (Jer. 19:5-6)
In Judasim the name Gehinom is generally used metaphorically as an appellation for the place of torment reserved for the wicked after death. The New Testament uses the Greek from the Gehenna in the same sense.
More References To The Afterlife
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- Paradise And Hell in Later ThoughtFrom the Encyclopedia Judaica 13:82 Paradise and Hell, the place of reward for the righteous and punishment for the wicked after death, are traditionally referred to as the Garden and Gehinnom respectively. In the Bible these two names never refer to the abode of souls after death; nevertheless, the idea of a fiery torment for […]
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- GehinnomFrom the Encyclopedia Judaica (Valley of Ben-Hinnom, Valley of [the Son(s) of Hinnom, Gehenna) a valley south of Jerusalem on one of the borders between the territories of Judah and Benjamin, between the Valley of Rephaim and En-Rogel (Josh. 15:8, 18:16). It is identified with Wadier-Rababi. During the time of Monarchy, Gehinnom, at a place […]
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