Gehenna is the Greek spelling of the Hebrew term, Ge Hinnom, for Valley of Hinnom, the place outside Jerusalem where garbage, trash, dead animals, and even executed criminals were disposed. Fires burned continuously to get rid of the trash and the bodies. Worms lived in whatever had not been consumed by the fires. The smoke, fires, and worms were a constant reminder to the residents and visitors to Jerusalem of the description of Sheol, so Gehenna was used as a synonym for Sheol. From early in the history of Israel, this valley was used for human sacrifices, offerings of babies to the heathen god, Moloch. Joshua 15:8 is the earliest reference, then Joshua 18:16; Jeremiah 7:32,19:2,6 and 32:35; 2 Chronicles 28:3. 2 Kings 23:10 uses the full name of the valley, Valley of the Sons of Hinnom. Hinnom means wailing, lamentation.