the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Siddim
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or Sid'dim. (field, plain). The vale of Siddim. A place named only in one passage of Genesis - Genesis 14:3; Genesis 14:8; Genesis 14:10. It was one of that class of valleys, which the Hebrews designated by the word, emek. This term appears to have been assigned to a broad, flattish tract, sometimes of considerable width, enclosed on each side by a definite range of hills. It was, so far, a suitable spot for the combat between the four and five kings, Genesis 14:8; but it contained a multitude of bitumen pits sufficient materially to affect the issue of the battle.
In this valley. The kings of the five allied cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Bela seem to have awaited the approach of the invaders. It is, therefore, probable that it was in the neighborhood of the "plain or circle of Jordan" in which those cities stood. If we could venture, as some have done, to interpret the latter clause of Genesis 14:3, "which is near," or "which is at, or by, the Salt Sea," then we might agree with Dr. Robinson and others in identifying the valley of Siddim, with the enclosed plain which intervenes between the south end of the lake, and the range of heights, which terminate the Ghor, and commence the Wady Arabah. But the original of the passage seems to imply that the Salt Sea covers the actual space formerly occupied by the vale of Siddim. See Sea, The Salt.
These files are public domain.
Smith, William, Dr. Entry for 'Siddim'. Smith's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/sbd/s/siddim.html. 1901.
