The Salt Sea, commonly referred to as the Dead Sea in modern terminology, is a significant body of water mentioned in the Bible. It is located at the lowest point on the earth's surface, bordered by modern-day Jordan to the east and Israel and Palestine to the west. The Salt Sea is renowned for its high salinity, which prevents most aquatic life from thriving within its waters, hence the name "Dead Sea."

Biblical References:

The Salt Sea is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, often serving as a geographical landmark. In Genesis 14:3, it is referred to in the context of the battle of the kings: "All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea)." This passage highlights the Salt Sea's role as a boundary marker in the ancient Near East.

In the book of Numbers, the Salt Sea is described as part of the southern border of the Promised Land. Numbers 34:12 states, "Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides." This delineation underscores the Salt Sea's importance in defining the territorial limits given to the Israelites.

The Salt Sea is also mentioned in the context of the division of the land among the tribes of Israel. In Joshua 15:5, the boundary of the tribe of Judah is described: "The eastern border was the Salt Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan." Similarly, in Joshua 18:19, the border of the tribe of Benjamin is noted: "The border continued to the northern slope of Beth Hoglah and ended at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan."

Symbolism and Significance:

The Salt Sea holds symbolic significance in the Bible. Its lifeless waters serve as a stark contrast to the life-giving properties of other bodies of water mentioned in Scripture, such as the Jordan River. The Salt Sea's desolation can be seen as a representation of judgment and barrenness, in contrast to the fertility and abundance associated with God's blessings.

In Ezekiel's vision of the future temple, the prophet describes a river flowing from the temple that brings life to the Dead Sea. Ezekiel 47:8-9 states, "He said to me, 'This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures, and there will be many fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows, everything will live.'" This vision symbolizes the transformative power of God's presence and the restoration that comes through His divine intervention.

Geographical and Historical Context:

The Salt Sea is situated in the Jordan Rift Valley, a geological feature formed by the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates. Its high salinity is due to the lack of an outlet, causing water to evaporate and leave behind mineral deposits. The area surrounding the Salt Sea has been inhabited since ancient times, with evidence of settlements and trade routes dating back to the early Bronze Age.

Throughout history, the Salt Sea has been a source of valuable minerals, including potash and bromine. Its unique properties have made it a site of interest for both ancient and modern peoples, contributing to its enduring significance in the region.

In summary, the Salt Sea is a prominent geographical feature in the biblical narrative, serving as a boundary marker, a symbol of judgment and restoration, and a testament to the transformative power of God's presence. Its enduring presence in the biblical text reflects its importance in the history and theology of the ancient Israelites.3882. paralios -- by the sea, the sea coast
... sea coast. From para and hals; beside the salt (sea), ie Maritime -- sea coast.
see GREEK para. see GREEK hals. (paraliou) -- 1 Occurrence. 3881, 3882. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3882.htm - 6k

The Sea of Sodom
... This the Jewish writers every where call, which you may not so properly interpret
here, "the salt sea," as "the bituminous sea." In which sense word for word ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 5 the sea of.htm

Apostolic Exhortation
... What for? You will have it dried and salted, but what for? Did not it always live
in the salt sea? ... No, you cannot. But there it is, a fresh fish in a salt sea! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/apostolic exhortation.htm

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... rose up in a heap, a great way off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarathan, and
those that went down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were wholly ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

Fragment ix. Of Abraham and Lot. ...
... of ??lam. And they met by the Salt Sea, which is now called the Dead Sea.
In it I have seen very many wonderful things. For that ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/fragment ix of abraham and.htm

Chapter xiv
... It cannot be denied that parenthetical explanations abound throughout the chapter:
eg, v.2, "the same is Zoar"; v.3, "the same is the Salt Sea"; v.7, "the same ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Chapter xix
... Rather too drastic a use of the imagination is made when the destructive agent is
labelled "lava" (Jamieson), or "huge waves of the Salt Sea" (Procksch). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xix.htm

I Bind unto Myself Today
... The flashing of the lightning free,. The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,. The
stable earth, the deep salt sea,. Around the old eternal rocks. ...
/.../processionals 525 i bind unto.htm

A New Years Sermon to the Young
... There are in all probability long years stretching before you, instead of a narrow
strip of barren sand, before you come to the great salt sea that is going to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a new years sermon to.htm

'The Waters Saw Thee; they were Afraid'
... rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those
that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea failed, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the waters saw thee they.htm

Christ's Touch
... without rebuke.' Like a sunbeam passing through foul water untarnished and unstained;
or like some sweet spring rising in the midst of the salt sea, which yet ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/christs touch.htm

Salt-sea (3 Occurrences)
Salt-sea. Salt-pits, Salt-sea. Saltwort . Multi-Version Concordance
Salt-sea (3 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 3:17 The plain ...
/s/salt-sea.htm - 7k

Boundary (83 Occurrences)
... your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom,
and your south border shall be from the end of the SaltSea eastward; (See ...
/b/boundary.htm - 30k

Limit (115 Occurrences)
... 34:3 Then your south quarter will be from the waste land of Zin by the side of Edom,
and your limit on the south will be from the east end of the SaltSea, (BBE ...
/l/limit.htm - 36k

Salt (45 Occurrences)
...SaltSea. (Joshua 3:16). See DEAD SEA. Salt, The city of. ...SALTSEA. See DEAD SEA.
SALT, COVENANT OF. See COVENANT OF SALT. SEA, SALT. See DEAD SEA. ...
/s/salt.htm - 34k

Eastern (22 Occurrences)
... Joshua 12:3 and the Arabah unto the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and unto the sea
of the Arabah, even the SaltSea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and on ...
/e/eastern.htm - 14k

Southern (9 Occurrences)
... 34:3 Then your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside of Edom,
and your southern border shall be from the end of the saltsea eastward; (DBY ...
/s/southern.htm - 9k

Bay (8 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:2 Their south border was from the uttermost part of the SaltSea, from
the bay that looks southward; (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/b/bay.htm - 12k

Eastward (72 Occurrences)
... your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom,
and your south border shall be from the end of the SaltSea eastward; (WEB ...
/e/eastward.htm - 30k

Extremity (46 Occurrences)
... quarter been to you from the wilderness of Zin, by the sides of Edom, yea, the south
border hath been to you from the extremity of the SaltSea, eastward; (YLT ...
/e/extremity.htm - 22k

Siddim (3 Occurrences)
... Valley of the broad plains, "which is the saltsea" (Genesis 14:3, 8, 10), between
Engedi and the cities of the plain, at the south end of the Dead Sea. ...
/s/siddim.htm - 14k

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