John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 19:6

"therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that this place shall no more be called Topheth, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter." — Jeremiah 19:6 (ASV)

We saw in the last lecture that the Prophet was sent by God's command to the house of the potter, so that he might take an earthen bottle there, carry it to Topheth, and there explain God's judgment, which was near at hand because His worship had been violated. And he showed why the Jews deserved reproof: because they made incense to Baal, built groves and high places for themselves, and committed their sons and daughters to the fire. They were not only profane towards God but also cruel towards innocent souls. Now, lest they should offer an excuse, he also added that such a thing never entered God’s mind; and this is worthy of notice, because God by this one expression fulminates against all those inventions with which men delight themselves. Since, then, there is no command, it follows that whatever is attempted in this way is frivolous and useless.

He now denounces punishment: The days are coming, or shall come, in which this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter. This seemed incredible to the Jews, for they had chosen that place for themselves to perform their superstitions; therefore, they thought that a great part of their safety depended on their false worship.

As for the word Tophet, some think that it is to be understood simply as hell, or for eternal death; but this cannot by any means be accepted. More probable is the opinion of those who derive it from תף, teph, which means a drum; for they think that drums were beaten when infants were killed, so that their cries might not be heard.

But as this is only a conjecture, I do not know whether another reason can be given. Some derive the word from יפה, iphe, which means to be decorous or beautiful; and this etymology apparently has something in its favor. And perhaps it ought to be understood this way in Job 17:6, where the holy man complains that he had become a proverb, and that he had been תפת, Tophet, in the presence of all.

Indeed, some explain the word there as meaning something monstrous, and thus understand it in a negative sense. But it seems rather to have been put in contrast with the former clause—he had been a pleasant spectacle, but he had now become detestable. But those who understand the word there as meaning hell do so entirely without any reason, for the idea that Job perished, seeing and knowing his perdition, as they say, is a forced interpretation.

Therefore, I do not doubt that he said he had been תפת, Tophet; that is, an object of joy and praise, but that he was then a sad and mournful spectacle. And it is certain that the name Tophet, תפת, Tophet, was given to the valley of Hinnom because of the hilarity and joy that arose from there for the people; for they thought that God was propitious to them when they so diligently offered their sacrifices there, and yet they provoked His wrath.

So, Tophet is to be understood in a positive sense when we consider the origin of the word. It is indeed true that in Isaiah 30:33, Tophet is to be understood as Gehenna; but it may be that the prophets had by then begun to execrate the place so intensely that they indiscriminately called hell Gehenna and Tophet. For the word Gehenna, as we have stated elsewhere, had its origin from the same place; it is indeed corrupted, but its origin is not doubtful.

Now, the reason why the prophets and other faithful men called the place hell was plainly this: because the devil reigned in that place when God’s worship became corrupted and the whole of true religion was subverted; and especially, because superstition became so deeply entrenched in the hearts of the people that it could not be rooted out except by an extraordinary force and power.

However this may have been, we may conclude from this passage, as well as from other passages, that this name was given on account of the joy experienced there, because they thought themselves altogether happy, as God was pacified towards them. But what does Jeremiah say? This place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter. This seemed, as I have said, incredible to the Jews. But it was nevertheless necessary for the Prophet to boldly declare what was to come.