Bible Encyclopedias
Siddim, Vale of

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Sid, Sidi

Next Entry
Siddur

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
• Siddim, Vale of
Fausset Bible Dictionary
• Siddim, the Vale of
Hastings' BibleDictionary
• Siddim, Vale of
Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Siddim, Vale of
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Siddim, Vale of
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Siddim, Vale of
The Jewish Encyclopedia
• Siddim, Vale of

The etymology of "Siddim" is uncertain (see G. A. Smith, "Historical Geog. of the Holy Land," p. 503), though Targ. Onḳ. renders it "vale of fields." It is mentioned in Genesis 14:3,8,10, verse 3 identifying it with the Dead Sea—a geological impossibility, inasmuch as the Dead Sea was in existence long before Abraham's time ("Z. D. P. V." 1896, pp. 1-59; 1898, pp. 65-83); hence this verse is generally rejected as a late gloss. Hommel ("Die Altisraelitische Ueberlieferung," p. 164) describes the place as a region rich in asphalt, and which, as a result of some natural convulsion, was flooded by the waters of the Dead Sea. It is famed as the meeting-place of the confederation against Chedorlaomer.