The Valley of Slaughter

30 “‘The people of Judah have done evil(A) in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols(B) in the house that bears my Name and have defiled(C) it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth(D) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(E) to burn their sons and daughters(F) in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.(G) 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,(H) for they will bury(I) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33 Then the carcasses(J) of this people will become food(K) for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.(L) 34 I will bring an end to the sounds(M) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom(N) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,(O) for the land will become desolate.(P)

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30 “For the people of Judah have done evil in my eyes,” declares the Lord. “They have put their detestable idols[a] in the house that is called by my name in order to defile it. 31 They have built high places at Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire. I didn’t command this, and it never entered my mind!

32 “Therefore, the time is near,” declares the Lord, “when it will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. They’ll bury in Topheth because there is no other[b] place to do it.[c] 33 The dead bodies of these people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the animals of the land, and no one will disturb them. 34 In the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem I’ll bring an end to the sound of gladness and rejoicing, to the sounds of the bridegroom and bride, for the land will become a wasteland.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 7:30 Lit. their detestable things
  2. Jeremiah 7:32 The Heb. lacks other
  3. Jeremiah 7:32 The Heb. lacks to do it