Topical Encyclopedia The Valley of Jehoshaphat is a significant location mentioned in the Bible, primarily in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. The name "Jehoshaphat" means "Yahweh judges," and this valley is traditionally associated with divine judgment and eschatological events.Biblical References: The primary biblical reference to the Valley of Jehoshaphat is found in the Book of Joel. Joel 3:2 (BSB) states, "I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, as they divided up My land." This passage highlights the valley as a place where God will judge the nations for their treatment of Israel. Further in Joel 3:12 (BSB), it is written, "Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side." This reinforces the theme of divine judgment and the gathering of nations for this purpose. Historical and Geographical Context: The exact geographical location of the Valley of Jehoshaphat is not definitively known, and it is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible outside the Book of Joel. Traditionally, it has been identified with the Kidron Valley, which lies between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. This identification is based on historical and religious tradition rather than explicit biblical evidence. The Kidron Valley has been a significant site throughout biblical history, serving as a boundary and a place of burial. It is mentioned in various contexts, such as King David's flight from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:23) and King Asa's destruction of idols (1 Kings 15:13). Theological Significance: The Valley of Jehoshaphat holds profound theological significance as a symbol of God's ultimate justice and sovereignty. It represents the culmination of divine judgment against the nations that have opposed God's people and purposes. The imagery of gathering and judgment in this valley underscores the biblical theme of accountability before God. In eschatological interpretations, the Valley of Jehoshaphat is often associated with the final judgment and the end times. It serves as a reminder of the prophetic vision of God's intervention in history to vindicate His people and establish His righteous rule. Interpretations and Traditions: Throughout Christian history, the Valley of Jehoshaphat has been interpreted in various ways. Some view it as a literal location where future events will unfold, while others see it as a symbolic representation of God's judgment. The association with the Kidron Valley has influenced Christian pilgrimage and eschatological expectations. In Jewish tradition, the valley is also seen as a place of judgment, and it holds a significant place in Jewish eschatology. The convergence of Jewish and Christian interpretations highlights the shared belief in God's ultimate justice and the hope for redemption. Conclusion: The Valley of Jehoshaphat remains a powerful symbol within the biblical narrative, representing God's judgment and the hope for divine justice. Its mention in the Book of Joel continues to inspire theological reflection and eschatological anticipation among believers. Smith's Bible Dictionary Valley Of Jehoshaphat(valley of the judgment of Jehovah), a valley mentioned by Joel only, as the spot in which, after the return of Judah and Jerusalem from captivity, Jehovah would gather all the heathen, (Joel 3:2) and would there sit to judge them for their misdeeds to Israel. ch. (Joel 3:12) The scene of "Jehovah's judgment" as been localized, and the name has come down to us attached to that deep ravine which separates Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, through which at one time the Kedron forced its stream. At what period the name "valley of Jehoshaphat" was first applied to this spot is unknown. It is not mentioned in the Bible or Josephus, but is first encountered in the middle of the fourth century. Both Moslems and Jews believe that the last judgment is to take place there. The steep sides of the ravine, wherever a level strip affords the opportunity, are crowded --in places almost paved-- by the sepulchres of the Moslems, or the simpler slabs of the Jewish tombs, alike awaiting the assembly of the last judgment. The name is generally confined by travellers to the upper part of the glen. (Others suppose that the name is only an imaginary one, "the valley of the judgment of Jehovah" referring to some great victories of God's people in which judgment was executed upon the heathen; or perhaps, as Keil, etc., to the end of the world. --ED.) ATS Bible Dictionary Valley Of JehoshaphatOr valley of the judgment of God, a metaphorical name of some place where God would judge the foes of his people, Joel 3:2,12. There is no ground for applying it to any known locality, or for connecting it, unless for mere illustration, with the great battle of Jehoshaphat described in 2 Chronicles 20:1-37. Since the third century, however, the name has been appropriated to the deep and narrow glen east of Jerusalem, running north and south between the city and the Mount of Olives, called in the Bible the brook Kidron. See JERUSALEM. Strong's Hebrew 3092. Yehoshaphat -- "the LORD has judged," the name of a number ...... From Yhovah and shaphat; Jehovah-judged; Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem -- Jehoshaphat. Compare Yowshaphat. ... /hebrew/3092.htm - 6k Library The Valley of Hinnom. First Latin Form. The Prophet Joel. Meditations of the Blessed State of the Regenerate Man after Death ... Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague Concerning Jehoshaphat Again; How He Constituted Judges And, Joel The Battle of Armageddon. The King on his Judgment Throne The Adulterous Woman. Resources What is the Valley of Baca in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the valley of decision (Joel 3:14)? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to walk through the valley of the shadow of death? | GotQuestions.org Valley: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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