Bible Dictionaries
Kidron Valley

Holman Bible Dictionary

(kid' ruhn) Place name meaning “turbid, dusky, gloomy.” The deep ravine beside Jerusalem separating the Temple mount and the city of David on the west from the Mount of Olives on the east. The Spring of Gihon lies on the western slope. The Garden of Gethsemane would have been above the valley on the eastern side. Cemeteries have been located in this area since the Middle Bronze Age (before 1500 B.C.). David crossed the brook when he fled Jerusalem to escape from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:23 ). Solomon warned Shimei not to cross it or he would die (1 Kings 2:37 ). Here certain kings of Judah destroyed idols and other pagan objects removed from the Temple area (1 Kings 15:13; 2Kings 23:4,2Kings 23:6,2 Kings 23:12; 2 Chronicles 29:16; 2 Chronicles 30:14 ). After the Last Supper, Jesus went through the Kidron Valley on his way to the Mount of Olives (John 18:1 ). See City of David; Jerusalem; Mount of Olives; Spring of Gihon; Valley of Hinnom.

Ricky L. Johnson