John Chapter 18, Verse 1
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1: ταυτα ειπων ο ιησους εξηλθεν συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου περαν του χειμαρρου των κεδρων οπου ην κηπος εις ον εισηλθεν αυτος και οι μαθηται αυτου
1: When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his
disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the
which he entered, and his disciples.
1: When Jesus had said these things, he went forth with his disciples
over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered
with his disciples.
The brook Cedron. This was a small stream that flowed to the east of Jerusalem, through the valley of Jehoshaphat, and divided the city from the Mount of Olives. It was also called Kidron and Kedron. In summer it is almost dry. The word used here by the evangelist -- ceimarrou denotes properly a water-stream (from ceima shower or water, and rew, rodv, to flow, flowing), and the idea is that of a stream that was swollen by rain or by the melting of the snow (Passow, Lex.). This small rivulet runs along on the east of Jerusalem till it is joined by the water of the pool of Siloam, and the water that flows down on the west side of the city through the valley of Jehoshaphat, and then goes off in a south-east direction to the Dead Sea. (See the Map of the Environs of Jerusalem in vol. i.) Over this brook David passed when he fled from Absalom, 2 Sam 15:23. It is often mentioned in the Old Testament, 1 Kg 15:13 2Chr 15:16; 2Chr 30:14 2Kg 23:6, 2Kg 23:12.
Where was a garden. On the west side of the Mount of Olives. This was called Gethsemane. See "Mt 26:36".
It is probable that this was the property of some wealthy man in Jerusalem -- perhaps some friend of Jesus. It was customary for the rich in great cities to have country-seats in the vicinity. This, it seems, was so accessible that Jesus was accustomed to visit it, and yet so retired as to be a suitable place for devotion.
