Kidron: = Kedron Cedron, turbid, the winter torrent which flows through the
Valley of Jehoshaphat, on the eastern side of Jerusalem, between the
city and the Mount of Olives. This valley is known in Scripture only
by the name "the brook Kidron." David crossed this brook bare-foot
and weeping, when fleeing from Absalom
(2 Samuel 15:23,30) and it was
frequently crossed by our Lord in his journeyings to and fro
(John 18:1) Here Asa burned the obscene idols of his mother
(1 Kings 15:13) and here Athaliah was executed
(2 Kings 11:16) It
afterwards became the receptacle for all manner of impurities
(2 Chronicles 29:16; 30:14) and in the time of Josiah this valley was the
common cemetery of the city
(2 Kings 23:6) comp.
(Jeremiah 26:23) Through
this mountain ravine no water runs, except after heavy rains in the
mountains round about Jerusalem. Its length from its head to en-Rogel
is 2 3/4 miles. Its precipitous, rocky banks are filled with ancient
tombs, especially the left bank opposite the temple area. The greatest
desire of the Jews is to be buried there, from the idea that the
Kidron is the "valley of Jehoshaphat" mentioned in
(Joel 3:2) Below
en-Rogel the Kidron has no historical or sacred interest. It runs in a
winding course through the wilderness of Judea to the north-western
shore of the Dead Sea. Its whole length, in a straight line, is only
some 20 miles, but in this space its descent is about 3,912 feet.
Recent excavations have brought to light the fact that the old bed of
the Kidron is about 40 feet lower than its present bed, and about 70
feet nearer the sanctuary wall.
