When King David’s throne was usurped, David fled from Jerusalem, crossed over the Kidron Brook (“Kidron” being Hebrew for “darkness”), and headed up to the Mount of Olives.

King Solomon commanded the traitor Shimei not to leave Jerusalem nor cross over the Kidron Brook, lest he be executed for treason.

Kings Asa, Josiah, and Hezekiah disposed of the pagan idols allowed in the temple by their fathers by having them taken to the Kidron Brook and destroyed.

Jeremiah the prophet, seeing the destruction and death as Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon, prophesied that one day God would redeem His people and give them a new covenant, and that all the bodies within Jerusalem as far as the Kidron Brook would be holy to the LORD.

So if you had grown up learning these stories about the Kidron Brook, what would come to mind when you thought of Kidron?

– The king of the Jews once appeared to lose his kingdom by going from Jerusalem to Kidron to Olivet, but soon after his kingdom was restored.

– The Kidron Brook is where idols are destroyed to restore holiness to the temple.

– One day God will restore His covenant inside the bounds of the Kidron Valley.

“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.” (John 18:1)

That night, the night Jesus was betrayed, He seemed to have lost. He was about to be destroyed. Darkness seemed to prevail.

But in reality, the temple was being cleansed. God’s covenant was being renewed. His people were being made holy. And the King would soon return.