For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Tophet - from tuph, to spit out; literally, a place of abomination: a grove or garden in the valley of the sons of Hinnom, southeast of Jerusalem, where Israel offered human sacrifices to Moloch by fire; hence, a place of burning (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31). Latterly called Gay' (H1516) - Hinnom (H2011) or Gehenna - i:e., valley of Hinnom. It was the receptacle of the refuse of the city, to consume which fires were constantly burning. Hence, it came to express Hell, the place of torment. In the former sense it was a fit place to symbolize the funeral pyre of the Assyrian army (not that it actually perished there): the Hebrews did not burn, but buried their dead, but the pagan Assyrians are to be burnt as a mark of ignominy. In the latter sense, Tophet is the receptacle "prepared for the devil (the antitype to "the king" of Assyria, Isaiah 14:12-15) and his angels," and unbelieving men (Matthew 5:22; Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:43-44). H. Bonar, in Smith's 'Dictionary of the Bible,' derives Tophteh (as the name is written here) from the Hebrew for tabrets in Isaiah 30:32, tupiym (H8596). Tophet was originally the king's music grove, as Chinneroth is the harpers. Afterward it was defiled by Baal and idols, and regarded as the gate of hell, the receptacle of abominations; and finally it became "the valley of slaughter" (Jeremiah 7:32; Jeremiah 19:6).
`The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence And black Gehenna called, the type of hell.'
(-MILTON.)
Remarks: "Woe" will be the portion of the professing children of God when they "take counsel" according to the dictates of carnal policy, not according to the teaching of the "Spirit" of the Lord. In vain men, when chastised for sin, wrap themselves in a "covering" that only 'adds sin to sin.' It is the tendency of sinners, instead of averting further judgments by repentance, to incur fresh guilt by self-devised expedients for deliverance. They who make the world their "strength" shall, to their eternal 'shame and confusion,' find that it is but a "shadow." What can a dying world "profit" an undying soul? (Isaiah 30:5-6.) To court its favour, and to gain its goods, costs "trouble" and burdensome care. Our truest "strength," in respect to it, is "to sit still" (Isaiah 30:7), and to make, not it, but the Lord our strength.