In the New Testament manuscripts, as well in the writings of the first pilgrims to the Holy Land, the name of-the place where Matthew and Mark situate Jesus’ arrest is spelt in different ways. Bible scholars give various explanations as to its derivation. The common and most widely accepted spelling of the word today is „Gethsemani.” It represents a slightly Hellenized form of two Hebrew words, gath (press) and shemanim (oils).
This „Oils Press” was situated beyond the Kidron gully (John 18:1) in the direction of the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26 :30; Mark 14 :26; Luke 22 :39). Like most gullies or wadis in Palestine, that named Kidron is dry until the heavy winter rains flood it. Along its course it now bears different names. It has its source to the north-east of Jerusalem, follows the line of the city on the east, separating it from the Mount of Olives. It then turns south-east and ends in the Dead Sea, south of Qumran. Thus, Kidron is a little puzzling for visitors to Gethsemane. They are inclined to think of Alpine streams, with their swift currents and high banks. Here, instead, they see a kind of aqueduct, studded with rocks, in the middle of a valley which bears little resemblance to what people since the fourth century have imagined the Valley of Josaphat to be like, the place where God will sit in judgment on all nations (Joel 3 :12). This tradition is still perpetuated by the fact that the valley is a vast cemetery for Jews, Christians and Muslims.