from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tophet \To"phet\, n. [Heb. t[=o]phet, literally, a place to be
spit upon, an abominable place, fr. t[=u]ph to spit out.]
A place lying east or southeast of Jerusalem, in the valley
of Hinnom. [Written also {Topheth}.]
[1913 Webster]
And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the
children of Hinnom. --2 Kings
xxiii. 10.
[1913 Webster]
Note: It seems to have been at first part of the royal
garden, but it was afterwards defiled and polluted by
the sacrifices of Baal and the fires of Moloch, and
resounded with the cries of burning infants. At a later
period, its altars and high places were thrown down,
and all the filth of the city poured into it, until it
became the abhorrence of Jerusalem, and, in symbol, the
place where are wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[1913 Webster]
The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence
And black Gehenna called, the type of hell.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]