The latter five came as allies
This phrase refers to the five kings mentioned earlier in Genesis 14:2: the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar). These kings formed an alliance to resist the domination of the four eastern kings led by Chedorlaomer. This reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of forming coalitions for mutual defense and military strength. The alliance highlights the political dynamics of the time, where city-states often banded together against larger empires.

to the Valley of Siddim
The Valley of Siddim is identified as the battleground for the conflict between the coalition of the five kings and the four eastern kings. This valley is believed to be located near the southern end of the Dead Sea. The name "Siddim" may suggest a place of fields or plains, indicating a flat area suitable for battle. Archaeological evidence suggests that this region was once fertile and populated, supporting the biblical narrative of cities like Sodom and Gomorrah.

(that is, the Salt Sea)
The Salt Sea is another name for the Dead Sea, known for its high salinity and mineral content. The Dead Sea is one of the earth's saltiest bodies of water and lies at the lowest point on the earth's surface. The reference to the Salt Sea provides geographical context, indicating the location of the Valley of Siddim. The Dead Sea region is significant in biblical history, often associated with judgment and destruction, as seen in the later account of Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction. This area serves as a backdrop for the unfolding events in Genesis 14, emphasizing the historical and geographical setting of the narrative.

1. Kings of the Valley of Siddim
This refers to the coalition of kings who joined forces in the Valley of Siddim. These kings were part of a larger account involving a battle between different regional powers.

2. Valley of Siddim
This is the location where the kings gathered. It is identified with the Salt Sea, known today as the Dead Sea. The valley was significant for its strategic and economic importance.

3. The Salt Sea (Dead Sea)
A body of water known for its high salinity, located in the Jordan Rift Valley. It serves as a geographical marker in the biblical account.

4. Coalition of Kings
The alliance of kings mentioned in this verse is part of a larger conflict involving the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, among others, against Chedorlaomer and his allies.

5. Chedorlaomer
Although not mentioned directly in this verse, he is a central figure in the surrounding account, leading the opposing coalition against the kings of the Valley of Siddim.The Importance of Alliances
Alliances can be powerful, but they must be grounded in righteousness. The coalition in Genesis 14 was ultimately unsuccessful because it was not aligned with God's purposes.

Geographical Significance in Scripture
Understanding the geographical context, such as the Valley of Siddim, can enhance our comprehension of biblical events and their implications.

God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs
Despite human alliances and conflicts, God's sovereign plan prevails. This encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate control over world events.

The Consequences of Sin
The involvement of Sodom and Gomorrah in this coalition foreshadows their later destruction, reminding us of the consequences of living in opposition to God's will.

Spiritual Warfare
Just as physical battles occurred in the Valley of Siddim, believers are engaged in spiritual battles. Ephesians 6 reminds us to put on the full armor of God.(3) All these were joined together.--Were united in a confederacy, and so formed a pentapolis, or group of five allied towns, like the Philistine league with its five lords (1Samuel 6:16-18).

The vale of Siddim.--Mr. Conder (Tent-work, ii. 16) says that the name Sidd is still given by the Arabs to the cliffs or banks of marl which run along the southern edge of the plain of Jericho; and with this agrees Aben-Ezra's explanation, who derives the word from the Hebrew sid, chalk. Mr. Conder searched throughout the Ciccar for traces of the ruined cities, but in vain; and "the gradual rise of the level of the plain, caused by the constant washing down of the soft marl from the western hills, would effectually," he thinks, "cover over any such ruins." He found, however, copious springs of water upon the north-western side of the lake, and considers that the five cities were in their neighbourhood.

Which is the salt sea.--From these words commentators have rashly concluded that the vale of Sodom was swallowed up by the Dead Sea; but not only is no such convulsion of nature mentioned in Genesis 19, but Abram is described as seeing the Ciccar-land not submerged, but smoking like a furnace (Genesis 19:28). Probably "the vale of Siddim" was the name of the whole district in which these sidds, or bluffs, are situated, and which extend round all the northern shores of the lake. Mr. Conder, after tracing the lines of former beaches, which show that the Dead Sea has long been shrinking in extent, tells us (Tent-work, ii. 43) that geologists hold that it had reached its present condition long before the days of Abram. It still, indeed, covered a much larger space, for the rains at that time were far more copious in Palestine than at present; but it no longer extended over the whole Arabah, as, by the evidence of these beaches, was once the case.

(3) The Horites.--Cave-men, the aboriginal inhabitants of Mount Seir, subsequently conquered by the Edomites (Deuteronomy 2:12; Deuteronomy 2:22). The miserable condition of these earth-men is described in Job 30:3-8. . . .

Verse 3. - All these - the last-named princes - were joined together - i.e. as confederates (so. and came with their forces) - in (literally, to) the vale of Siddim. The salt valley (LXX.); a wooded vale (Vulgate); a plain filled with rocky hollows (Gesenius), with which Ver. 10 agrees; the valley of plains or fields (Onkelos, Raschi, Keil, Murphy). Which is the salt sea. i.e. where the salt sea afterwards arose, on the destruction of the cities of the plain - Genesis 19:24, 25 (Keil, Havernick; cf. Josephus, ' Bell. Jud.,' 4:08, 4); but the text scarcely implies that the cities were submerged-only the valley (cf. Quarry, p. 207). The extreme depression of the Dead Sea, being 1300 feet below the level of the Mediterranean ("the most depressed sheet of water in the world:" Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' Genesis 7.), conjoined with its excessive saltness (containing 26.25 per cent of saline particles), renders it one of the most remarkable of inland lakes. Its shores are clothed with loom and desolation. Within a mile from northern embouchure the verdure of the rich Jordan valley dies away. Strewn along its desolate margin lie broken canes and willow branches, with trunks of palms, poplars, and other trees, half embedded in slimy mud, and all covered with incrustations of salt. At its south-western corner stands the mountain of rock salt, with its columnar fragments, which Josephus says, in his day was regarded as the pillar of Lot s wife.

Parallel Commentaries ...


The latter
אֵ֙לֶּה֙ (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

[five]
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

came as allies
חָֽבְר֔וּ (ḥā·ḇə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2266: To unite, be joined, to tie a magic knot or spell, to charm

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the Valley
עֵ֖מֶק (‘ê·meq)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6010: A vale

of Siddim
הַשִּׂדִּ֑ים (haś·śid·dîm)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7708: Siddim -- a valley near the Dead Sea

(that is,
ה֖וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

the Salt
הַמֶּֽלַח׃ (ham·me·laḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4417: Powder, salt

Sea).
יָ֥ם (yām)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin


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OT Law: Genesis 14:3 All these joined together in the valley (Gen. Ge Gn)