Places in the Bible Today:

Valley of Salt

Data

Translated NamesSalt Valley, Valley of Salt
Typevalley
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

4 Possible Identifications

  1. Es Sebkha (modern): 50% confidence
    1. cliffs at Es SebkhaEs Sebkha

  2. Wadi el Milh (modern): 35% confidence
    1. panorama of Wadi el MilhWadi el Milh

  3. another name for Ge-harashim (ancient): less than 10% confidence. It may be:
    1. building at Lodwithin 5 km of Lod

    2. satellite view of the region around Wadi esh ShellalWadi esh Shellal

    3. aerial panorama looking north of Ness Ziona including Sarafand el Kharab, which is beyond the road at the topabout 1 km around Sarafand el Kharab

    4. cistern at Khirbet Hirshaabout 2 km around Khirbet Hirsha

  4. Wadi Arabah (modern): less than 10% confidence
    1. artificial reservoir along Wadi ArabahWadi Arabah

Verses (5)

1Sam-Esth (4)
2Sam 8:13
2Kgs 14:7
1Chr 18:12
2Chr 25:11
Job-Mal (1)
Ps 60:1

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookValley of Salt
OpenBible.info (2007)Valley of Salt
OpenBible.infoaf936bd (Valley of Salt)
TIPNRSalt_Valley@2Sa.8.13
WikidataQ7912337

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Salt, Valley of (place)
  2. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Salt, valley of
  3. Carta Bible Atlas, 5th Edition (2011)
  4. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): Salt, Valley of (place)
  5. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1984): 2Sam 8:13-14; 2Chr 25:11-12
  6. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Salt (Valley of)
  7. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): Salt Valley
  8. Hartley, Genesis (2000): 14:8-12
  9. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  10. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 99
  11. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Salt, Valley of
  12. IVP Atlas of Bible History (2006): pages 64, 65
  13. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Sam 8:13
  14. Lexham Bible Dictionary (2016): Salt, Valley of
  15. Monson, Regions on the Run (2009): map 2
  16. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Salt, Valley of
  17. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  18. Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition (2007)
  19. Rogerson, New Atlas of the Bible (1985): page 114
  20. Schlegel, Satellite Bible Atlas (2016): map 7-2
  21. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Salt, Valley of
  22. Westminster Historical Atlas to the Bible (1956): Salt, Valley of
  23. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Salt, Valley of
  24. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010)
  25. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  26. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): 1Chr 18:12; 2Kgs 14:7; 1Chr 18:12; 2Chr 25:11-12
  27. Zondervan Pictorial Bible Atlas (1972): page 93

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

זאב שטיין, Danny-w, רחל שרוני, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Amos Meron, bentzy, Stéphanie Gromann

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.