CEDRON. – A torrent or valley (Heb. Nahal Qidhrôn; in Greek ὁ χελαφρός τών Κεδφών; cf. ὁ Κεδφών). It rises from Mount Scopus to the northeast of Jerusalem, at about 760 m. above sea level, and flows east of the city, assuming between it and the Mount of Olives the modern name of Wādi Sittī Marjam («Valley of Our Lady Mary»). After joining the Wādi er-Rabābī (valley of Ennon, Gehenna) to the southeast of the city, it continues under the name of Wādi en-Nār toward the Dead Sea, cutting a deep channel through the desert.
The Cedron is rich in historical memories. David, weeping over the rebellion of Absalom, crossed it barefoot and with his head covered as a sign of mourning (2 Sam. 15:23-30). Christ, prefigured by David, passed through it at the beginning of His Passion on His way to Gethsemane (Jn. 18:1). Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, mistakenly interpreting a passage in the prophet Joel (4:2, 12) which speaks of the valley of the «Judgment of God» (Heb. *Ekthásma*), have located this valley to the east of Jerusalem. Here are found many tombs (the Muslim cemetery on the western slope, the Jewish on the eastern, among them the so-called Tomb of Absalom, of James, and of Zechariah).