The Valley of Slaughter is mentioned in Jeremiah 7:32 which says, “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere.”
To understand what this valley is, we need some context. Jeremiah was a prophet in the land of Judah during the time leading up to and during the Babylonian captivity. The people of Judah had turned away from following God, and Jeremiah was warning them about coming judgment if they did not repent.
Part of this warning was that an invasion was coming from Babylon that would leave many dead. Jeremiah 7:32 is specifically pointing to the valley of Hinnom, saying that it would no longer be called by that name, but instead the Valley of Slaughter. The Valley of Hinnom was a place outside of Jerusalem where child sacrifices had been made to false gods like Molech (Jeremiah 7:31). It had also become a garbage dump where fires continually burned.
But because of the coming invasion, this area would be filled with so many dead bodies from war that it would be renamed the Valley of Slaughter. There would be so many killed from the attack that they would not even have room to bury them all, and would need to use the Valley of Hinnom for burials.
Some key things to understand about the Valley of Slaughter:
- It was foretold by Jeremiah as part of coming judgment on Judah for their sins.
- It points specifically to the Valley of Hinnom, a cursed place outside Jerusalem.
- The name change was because it would be filled with dead bodies from the Babylonian invasion.
- So many would be killed that regular burial places would run out of room.
The prophecy of the Valley of Slaughter came true when Babylon invaded and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. The description of the fall of Jerusalem in Lamentations 1:20 even seems to echo Jeremiah’s prophecy: “See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death.”
The valley was likely used as a mass burial ground as predicted. 2 Kings 23:10 indicates that in Josiah’s reform certain valley areas were filled with dead men’s bones, which may point to the Valley of Hinnom being used for mass burials. The judgment came on Judah just as Jeremiah had declared.
For Christians today, the Valley of Slaughter remains a sobering reminder that God does not idly stand by when His people indulge in sin and idolatry. There are consequences for turning from the Lord. While our hope is in the gospel and God’s mercy through Christ, the Valley of Slaughter should convict us to examine our own hearts, walk in holiness, and fear falling into evil deeds and rebellion against God.
Background on the Valley of Hinnom
To better understand the significance of the name change to the Valley of Slaughter, it helps to know some background on the Valley of Hinnom:
- It was located just outside the walls on the southeast side of Jerusalem.
- The boundaries are somewhat uncertain, but it bordered the Kidron Valley and joined the Tyropoeon Valley.
- Its name came from “Ge Hinnom” meaning the “Valley of Hinnom’s son.”
- It first appears in Joshua 15:8 as part of the boundary of Benjamin.
- The valley had once been used by apostate Israelites for child sacrifice to Molech (2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6).
- Ahaz and Manasseh were condemned for these child sacrifices there (2 Kings 16:3, 2 Chronicles 33:6).
- Josiah destroyed the pagan altars and made it a garbage dump to defile it (2 Kings 23:10).
- Fires burned there continuously to consume trash and dead bodies of animals/criminals.
- It had become symbolic of evil, idolatry, and divine wrath by Jeremiah’s time.
So the Valley of Hinnom already had a long, dark history in Jeremiah’s day. The prophecy of it becoming the Valley of Slaughter played off this cursed imagery. The place where child sacrifices had once been made to false gods would become filled with dead Israelites because of God’s judgment on their continuing idolatry.
The Broader Context of Jeremiah 7
Looking at the larger context of Jeremiah 7 helps shed light on the meaning of the Valley of Slaughter prophecy:
- Jeremiah gave this prophecy at the gate of the Lord’s house (Jeremiah 7:1-2).
- He proclaimed that Judah’s only hope was to repent and change their ways (Jeremiah 7:3-7).
- But they were trusting in deceptive words and not obeying God (Jeremiah 7:8-15).
- Because they had turned to idol worship, God’s anger would pour out on them (Jeremiah 7:16-20).
- He rejects their sacrifices because of their evil deeds (Jeremiah 7:21-26).
- He commands them to repent, but they refuse to answer (Jeremiah 7:27-28).
- They are to cut off their hair as a sign of grief for the coming judgment (Jeremiah 7:29).
The Valley of Slaughter prophecy comes right after God’s condemnation of them offering child sacrifices in Topheth/Hinnom valley. God is saying that this place of massive idolatry will become a grave for their dead bodies slain in judgment. He makes it clear that the coming judgment far outweighs any previous season of judgment.
Jeremiah’s Use of Symbolic Language
Jeremiah frequently used symbolic language, dramatic expressions, and place names to convey his messages. Here are some aspects of his symbolic language related to the Valley of Slaughter prophecy:
- Vivid contrast – The repurposing of the name Valley of Hinnom to Valley of Slaughter created a bold contrast that would stick in hearers’ minds.
- Wordplay – Valley of Slaughter (Hebrew: Emek Hattebach) sounded similar to Valley of Hinnom (Hebrew: Ge Hinnom). This linked the concepts together.
- Prophetic naming – Similarly to Isaiah 8:1-4, Jeremiah gave a prophetic name to foreshadow coming events.
- Illustration of scale – The name illustrated how extensive the slaughter would be, filling a whole valley.
- Symbolic place – The valley was symbolic of idolatry and child sacrifice. Using it in his prophecy added meaning.
- Warning through geography – Mentioning a real place conveyed a stronger warning than just a conceptual idea.
So the Valley of Slaughter represents a prime example of Jeremiah using vivid, symbolic language to convey his sobering message of coming judgment. The prophecy came true showing that God’s words through Jeremiah were true.
The Judgment Signified
What was the nature of the judgment symbolized by the Valley of Slaughter prophecy?
- It indicated a specific historical event – Babylon’s coming invasion and siege of Jerusalem.
- It signified massive loss of life – enough to fill a whole valley with burial needs.
- It represented complete devastation of the land – no normal burial spaces would remain.
- It mirrored the extent of Judah’s idolatry – pervasive rebellion against God.
- It displayed God’s wrath poured out – punishment for longstanding, unrepentant sin.
- It evidenced the covenant curses of Deut 28 coming true, especially v. 25-26.
So the Valley of Slaughter gives a vivid image of overwhelming destruction and death as payment for Judah’s sins. Jeremiah pulled no punches in warning them about the severity of the coming disaster if they failed to repent.
Where is the Valley of Slaughter?
Though Jeremiah gives the prophecy that the Valley of Hinnom will become known as the Valley of Slaughter, it is less certain where exactly this took place. Here are the main possibilities:
- It may have overlapped with the normal Hinnom Valley boundaries just south/east of Jerusalem’s walls.
- It may have extended into the adjacent Kidron Valley which joins the Hinnom Valley.
- The name could have also been used for other valley areas around Jerusalem that became filled with the dead after the siege.
- The exact location is not specified beyond linking it to the Valley of Hinnom.
- Use of the name may have just symbolized the general region versus one specific valley.
The most that can be definitively said is that Jeremiah connected the Valley of Slaughter with the Valley of Hinnom based on his prophecy. The general area where massive numbers of dead were buried was given this new symbolic name, regardless of its precise boundaries.
How Was the Prophecy Fulfilled?
There are a couple ways Jeremiah’s Valley of Slaughter prophecy was fulfilled:
- Initial fulfillment in the Babylonian siege – When Babylon invaded Judah and besieged Jerusalem in 589-586 BC, massive death and destruction occurred just as Jeremiah had warned. The city walls and temple were burned and many people died by famine, pestilence, and the sword (Jeremiah 52).
- Later fulfillment in Roman destruction – Some scholars see an additional fulfillment when the Romans sacked Jerusalem in AD 70. According to Josephus, thousands were killed and buried in indiscriminate trenches around the city when burial spaces ran out. This mirrored Jeremiah’s words about the Valley of Slaughter having no room elsewhere to bury.
While the initial Babylonian destruction certainly fulfilled the prophecy, the similar conditions following Rome’s destruction point to a potentially dual fulfillment. Either way, Jeremiah’s warnings sadly came true in the repeated destruction that occurred because of Judah’s refusal to turn back to God.
Lessons and Applications for Today
What lessons can Christians today take away from the Valley of Slaughter prophecy?
- God hates sin, idolatry, and child sacrifice – these evils provoke His wrath.
- God’s judgment for unrepentant sin is a terrible reality – we should fear and respect His holiness.
- Repentance is the only hope of mercy when facing God’s judgment.
- God is patient, but judgment will eventually come for those who continually rebel against Him.
- As believers, we must examine our own hearts and live righteous lives.
- God’s Word is true – we must believe the warnings of the prophets.
- We should frequently reflect on the horrors of God’s wrath and punishment for sin.
While we live in the age of grace through Christ, the Valley of Slaughter stands as a solemn warning against complacency and sin. Just as it was real for Judah, God’s judgment remains real for those who reject Him. This prophecy calls us to holiness and humility before Him.