The Mystery Of The Valley

TOPHET IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE THEY WERE NOT PROGRESSING BUT, RATHER DEGRESSING AND THE VALLEY BECAME THEIR DESTRUCTION

[TOE fet] (meaning unknown)-- a place southeast of Jerusalem, in the Valley of Hinnom, where child sacrifices were offered and the dead bodies were buried or consumed ; (Topheth, <2 Kin. 23:10>). Chemosh, a Moabite god <1 Kin. 11:7,33; 2 Kin. 23:13> and Molech, an Ammonite god <1 Kin. 11:7; 2 Kin. 23:10> were worshiped at Tophet through a practice despised by God-- infant sacrifice <2 Kin. 16:3; Jer. 7:31; 19:5; 32:35>.

Two kings of Judah-- Ahaz, or Jehoahaz <2 Kin. 16:3> and Manasseh <2 Kin. 21:6>-- made their own sons "pass through the fire." Godly King Josiah stopped this horrible practice <2 Kin. 23:10>, possibly by dumping the garbage of Jerusalem at Tophet.

The prophet Isaiah used Tophet as a symbol of the death and destruction which God would use as judgment against the king of Assyria .

Joel 3:14

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

(NKJ)

Circumstances are the material of life, good or bad.

It is we who take up our circumstances, and out of

them make habits, and habits decide or form our character in this valley of decision which we call life.

The valley of Eschol is where we find the Children of Israel shrinking from their promise as they received the message from the Evil Spies.

The Valley of Achor where Achan and his family were stoned for rebellious acts and hidden sin.

The Valley of Sorek, where Delilah lived.

Valleys and the actions of the men found there provide a crossroads of sorts for their lives and in turn defined them in their greatness, greatness in their Failure or Greatness in their Faith.