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Bible Encyclopedias
Kidron
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
or A ravine on the east of Jerusalem, separating the city from the Mount of Olives (comp. 2 Samuel 15:23,30). Except in 2 Kings 23:4, "Kidron" is always preceded by "Naḥal," which, like the Arabic "Wadi," has the double meaning of "brook" and "valley." For a part of the winter only, after heavy rains, the Kidron indeed is a torrent, for which reason it is called by the Septuagint Î§ÎµÎ¹Î¼Î¬á¿¤á¿¥Î¿Ï Ï ÎεδÏÏν. The latter word, which means "dark," relates to the dark color of the stream or ravine; but the translation of the Septuagint in 2 Samuel 15:23 and 1 Kings 15:13, Î§ÎµÎ¹Î¼á½±á¿¤á¿¥Î¿Ï Ï Ïῶν ÎÎδÏÏν, suggests a Greek name given to the place on account of the cedars abounding there.
The Kidron is first mentioned in the Old Testament as having been crossed by David in his flight (2 Samuel 15:23); then as having been indicated by Solomon to Shimei as the limit beyond which he might not go, under penalty of death (1 Kings 2:37). Later it became the repository of the implements of idol-worship when removed from the Temple. It was there that Asa burned his mother's idols(1 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 15:16) and that Josiah destroyed the Asherah (2 Kings 23:4,6,12; 2 Chronicles 29:16, 30:14). It would appear that in the time of Josiah, Kidron was the cemetery of the common people (2 Kings 23:6; comp. Jeremiah 31:39 [A. V. 40]), hence the statement of Josephus ("Ant." 9:7, § 3) that Athalia was executed in the Valley of Kidron. It is also mentioned as having been crossed by Jesus on his way to Gethsemane (John 23:1, A. V. see see CEDRON). The Valley of Kidron is generally identified with the Valley of Jehoshaphat (JEHOSHAPHAT, VALLEY OF). For the Hebrew inscription found there in 1880, SILOAM INSCRIPTION.
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Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Kidron'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tje/k/kidron.html. 1901.
