Siddim


AKA Vale of Siddim, Salt Sea

Valley of Siddim

Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. - Genesis 14:10

War of Nine Kings

Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (Zoar) in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea). They had served Chedorlaomer for 12 years but rebelled in the 13th year. In the 14th year, Chedorlaomer's side defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. Then they turned back for En-mishpat (Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites and also the Amorites dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.

Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar) joined battle in the Valley of Siddim with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: 4 against 5. As the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the area's many bitumen pits and the rest fled to the hill country. The enemy took all their possessions and provisions and left, including Lot and his possessions.

An escapee told Abram at the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, all his allies. Abram led his 318 trained men in pursuit as far as Dan, dividing his forces against them by night, defeating them, and pursuing them to Hobah, north of Damascus. He brought back all the possessions and his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

(Genesis 14)