One of the detestable abominations of God’s people of which the prophet Jeremiah wrote, was the literal burning alive of their children in sacrifice to a false god (Molech), for which God’s wrath was coming upon them. The place of this human sacrifice was just outside the city of Jerusalem in the valley of Hinnom. God had warned them through Moses many years earlier, "You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD." (Lev. 18:21)
Yet Jeremiah wrote of them:
“And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.” - Jer. 7:31
“And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” - Jer. 32:35
We read that King Ahaz, of Judah, “…walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.” (2 Chron. 28:2-3)
Of Manasseh, another king of Judah, we read that he, “…caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” (2 Chron. 33:6)
Then, a drastic change occurred…
Following Manasseh, King Josiah abolished this idolatrous worship and afterwards the Jews so abhorred this place, that they cast into it not only all manner of refuse, but even the dead bodies of animals and of unburied criminals who had been executed. And since fires were always needed to consume the dead bodies, that the air might not become tainted by their putrefaction, the fires burned continuously, and maggots were ever present here. (see 2 Kings 23:10) Sulphur was also used to further accomplish the disposal of the refuse.
Thus, this literal place (Valley of Hinnom) of the O. T. provided a fitting description for the eternal punishment of the wicked AFTER the Judgment in the N. T. corresponding to Gehenna. We can understand from the events associated with this literal place why the language describing Hell is used.
The word ge'-en-nä comes from a Hebrew term denoting the “Valley of Hinnom" this place of worship to the pagan god Moloch. Jesus described the punishment of Gehenna as follows: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell (ge'-en-nä), into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell (ge'-en-nä), into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire (ge'-en-nä): Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48).
See also Matt. 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33, where the word ‘hell’ is from (ge'-en-nä).
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