GIHON
“jump or waterfall.”
(a) Only source of living water in the vicinity of Jerusalem, mentioned three times in the Old Testament (1 Kings 1:33, 45; 2 Chron. 32:30; 33:14).
It is located on the right side of the Kidron Valley at 636 m. high in front of the village of Siloé.
Since Canaanite times, hydraulic works were undertaken to convey water within the walls of Jerusalem for the benefit of the inhabitants during any siege (1 Chron. 11:6).
(b) Gihon is also called one of the four rivers of paradise (Gen. 2:4), and attempts have been made to identify it with various rivers in vain. Evidently, the flood caused immense changes in the shapes of the earth’s surface.