SALT, VALLEY OF,

A place where it is said David smote the Syrians (2 Sam. 8:13). This valley (the’ Arabah) is between Judah and Edom on the south of the Dead Sea. Hence some interpreters would insert the words, “and he smote Edom,” after the words, “Syrians” in the above text. It is conjectured that while David was leading his army against the Ammonites and Syrians, the Edomites invaded the south of Judah, and that David sent Joab or Abishai against them, who drove them back and finally subdued Edom. (Comp. title to Ps. 60.) Here also Amaziah “slew of Edom ten thousand men” (2 Kings 14:7; comp. 8: 20-22 and 2 Chr. 25:5-11).

a valley in which occurred two memorable victories of the Israelite arms:

SALT, VAL'LEY OF, more accurately a "ravine," and the battlefield between Judah and Edom, It is five times mentioned in Scripture in connection with two remarkable victories of the Israelites. That of David over the Edomites when 18,000 of them were slain. 2 Sam 8:13; 1 Chr 13:12; and compare the title to Ps 60. The victory of Amaziah, who slew 10,000 Edomites and hurled 10,000 more over the "rock" (Petra). 2 Kgs 14:7; 2 Chr 25:11. It has been proposed to locate this valley near the salt mountain Jebel Usdum, in the plains south of the Salt Sea: but Grove objects to this, and holds that "salt" is not necessarily the right translation of the Hebrew melach, and infers that Amaziah brought his prisoners to Selah (margin, "the rock," or Petra); hence that he would scarcely carry so many prisoners for 50 miles through a hostile country. It would seem more likely, therefore, that the Valley of Salt was in Edom, near to Petra.