KIDRON
“cloudy”.
Stream (dry for part of the year) that rises northwest of Jerusalem, whose walls it borders, to continue towards the south between Mount Moria and Mount Olivet, where it becomes very narrow.
David probably fled through this siege from Absalom (2 Sam. 15:23, 30). There exists today a bridge with a single arch, between the gate of St. Stephen and Gethsemane. Jesus and his disciples frequently passed it on their way in and out of Jerusalem (Lk. 22:39).
It continues its course south in front of Siloam and the fountain Rogel, watering the “king’s gardens” (Neh. 3:15) and will join the streams coming from the pools of Gihon, in the valley of Hinnom.
After crossing narrow and deep ravines in the desert of Judah, descending more than 1,000 m., it empties into the Dead Sea. Some of its waters come from the temple through hidden channels (Ez. 47:1-12).
Several historical scenes took place at the Kidron (2 Sam. 5:8; 1 Kings 2:37; 2 Kings 23:4, etc.).
Its banks are covered with tombs and during several sites it served as a natural moat for the defense of Jerusalem.