Bible Dictionary
Siddim
The Vale of Siddim was the plain where the kings of the cities near Sodom fought Chedorlaomer and his allies. It was associated with the Salt Sea and contained pits of bitumen.
Definition
The Vale of Siddim was a broad plain associated with the cities of the Jordan plain. It contained numerous bitumen pits and was the scene of the conflict involving the kings of Sodom and the surrounding cities.
Biblical Usage
In Genesis, the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Bela awaited the invading kings in the Vale of Siddim. The bitumen pits affected the battle’s outcome, and the valley is associated with the Salt Sea.
Historical Background
The vale was probably near the plain or circle of Jordan. It has traditionally been identified with the enclosed plain at the southern end of the Salt Sea, though another proposed location is near its northern end.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(field, plain), The vale of, a place named only in one passage of Genesis— (Genesis 14:3,8,10) 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 has so far a suitable spot for the combat between the four and five kings, ver. 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 ver. 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. [Sea, The Salt, THE SALT]