Genesis 14:3

3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).

Genesis 14:3 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea ).
The Message Bible (MSG)
3 This second group of kings, the attacked, came together at the Valley of Siddim, that is, the Salt Sea.
American Standard Version (ASV)
3 All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
3 The five kings joined forces and met in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea).
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
3 All of these came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea).
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
3 Those five kings all gathered their armies together in the Valley of Siddim. It was the valley of the Dead Sea.

Genesis 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 14:3

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim
Or "of fields", or "ploughed lands" F2, a fruitful vale abounding with corn; or of gardens or paradises, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, being full of gardens and orchards, and was as the garden of the Lord, even as Eden, see ( Genesis 13:10 ) ; though Aben Ezra thinks it had its name from the slime or bitumen, of which there was great plenty in it, see ( Genesis 14:10 ) . Now the above five kings, as they all dwelt in the plain, they entered into a confederacy, met together, and joined their forces in this vale, to oppose the four kings that were come to make war with them, as being an advantageous place, as they judged, perhaps on more accounts than one; and here they stayed to receive the enemy, and give him battle, see ( Genesis 14:8 ) ; which is the salt sea;
afterwards so called, not at this time, for then it would not have been fit for armies to be drawn up in battle array in it; but it was so called in the times of Moses, and after this fine vale was turned into a bituminous lake, and had its name from the saltness of the waters of the lake, or from the city Melach, or city of salt, which was near it, ( Joshua 15:62 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (Mydvh qme la) "valle amaenissimorum agrorum", Munster; "in planitie agrorum", Fagius; so Jarchi; "in valle occationum", Hiller. Onomastic. Sacr. p. 937. "dicta ab agris occatis", Schmidt.

Genesis 14:3 In-Context

1 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim,
2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).
4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 8,10
  • 2. Numbers 34:3,12; Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 3:16; Joshua 12:3; Joshua 15:2,5; Joshua 18:19
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