Joshua 15:8

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).