- Valley of Josaphat
The Valley of Josaphat is mentioned in only one passage of
the Bible (Joel 3 -- Hebrew text, 4). In Verse 2 we read: "I will gather together all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Josaphat: and I will plead with them there for my people, and for my inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations" (cf. verse 12). According to one interpretation which has gained currency, theprophet has presented as the scene ofJahveh 's judgment on theGentiles that valley where, in the presence ofJosaphat ,King of Judah , He annihilated the coalition ofMoab ,Ammon andEdom . This Valley of thedesert of Teqo'a , which was called by theJews "êmêq Berâkâh", that is, "valley of blessing", is to be sought in the vicinity of theKhirbet Berêkût , some distance to the west of theKhirbet Teqû'a (about eleven miles fromJerusalem ). It is also credible that the prophet meant to designate an ideal, indeterminate valley -- the valley of judgment, and no more -- forJosaphat signifies "Jahveh judges". This valley is, in fact, spoken of under the name of "valley of destruction" (A. V. valley of decision") in verse 14 of the same chapter. According to the context, theDivine judgment will be exercised upon the nations who afflicted Judah and Jerusalem at the time of the captivity and the return from exile.In the fourth century, with the
Pilgrim of Bordeaux , the Cedron takes the name of Valley of Josaphat.Eusebius andSt. Jerome strengthen this view (Onomasticon, s.v.), whileCyril of Alexandria appears to indicate a different place; early Jewish tradition denied the reality of this valley. Subsequently to the fourth century,Christians ,Jews andMuslims regard Cedron as the place of thelast judgment . What has lent colour to this popular belief is the fact that since the time of the kings of Judah, Cedron has been the principalnecropolis of Jerusalem.Josias scattered upon the tombs of the children of Israel the ashes of the idol of the goddessAstarte which he burned in Cedron (2 Kings 23:4).It was in Cedron that the tomb of Absalom with its "hand" was set up, and the monument of St. James and of Zachary. The ornamental facade of the tomb said to be that of Josaphat has been completely walled up by the Jews, who have their cemeteries on the flanks of the Valley of Cedron. They wish to stand in the first rank on the day when God shall appear in the Valley of Josaphat.
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