Bible Dictionaries
Ben-Hinnom

Holman Bible Dictionary

(behn-hihn' nuhm) Place name meaning, “son of Hinnom.” A valley south of Jerusalem serving as northern border of tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:8 ) and southern boundary of tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:16 ). Pagan child sacrifices occurred here, some kings of Judah included (Ahaz, 2 Chronicles 28:3; Manasseh, 2 Chronicles 33:6 ). Jeremiah announced God's judgment on the valley because of such practices (Jeremiah 19:1-15 ). The valley would be renamed, “valley of slaughter” (Jeremiah 19:6 ). The sin of the valley gave God reason to bring the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem (Jeremiah 32:35 ). King Josiah defiled and did away with the altars there (2 Kings 23:10 ). The valley served as the northern boundary of the Judean villages where the returning exiles settled (Nehemiah 11:30 ).