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 2 Samuel 15:30 ), 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 ; Compare 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. (See KEDRON .)

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.

obscure; making black or sad

(turbid ), The brook, a torrent or valley, not a "brook," or, as in the margin of Revised Version, "ravine;" Gr. winter torrent. It was close to Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. it is now commonly known as the "valley of Jehoshaphat." The channel of the valley of Jehoshaphat is nothing more than the dry bed of a wintry torrent, bearing marks of being occasionally swept over by a large volume of water. It was crossed by David in his flight, ( 2 Samuel 15:23 ) comp. 2Sam 15:30 and by our Lord on his way to Gethsemane. ( John 18:1 ) comp. Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39 The distinguishing peculiarity of the Kidron valley --mentioned in the Old Testament-- is the impurity which appears to have been ascribed to it. In the time of Josiah it was the common cemetery of the city. ( 2 Kings 23:6 ) comp. Jere 26:23

KIDRON

kid'-ron (Kedron; the King James Version Cedron):

A place which, in obedience to Antiochus Sidetes, Cendebaeus fortified (1 Macc 15:39), to which, when defeated, he fled, hotly pursued by John and Judas, sons of Simon the Maccabee, who burned the city (1 Macc 16:4). It is named along with Jamnia (Yebna) and Azotus (Esdud). It is possibly identical with Katrah], a village about 3 miles Southwest of `Aqir (Ekron).