Genesis 14:3
ESV
And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
NIV
All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).
NASB
All these kings came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
CSB
All of these came as allies to the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea ).
NLT
This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea ).
KJV
All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
NKJV
All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
What does Genesis 14:3 mean?
The previous two verses listed two sets of kings. The first set of four kings went to war against the second set of five kings, which included the kings of the city-states of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13:13). Their dispute was over who had ultimate control of the region. Specifically, whether or not the rebelling kings would continue to be submissive to the existing regime. The forces led by the four kings were there to put down the rebellious forces led by the five kings.The five kings gathered their forces at a place called the Valley of Siddim (or the Dead Sea Valley). This region is toward the southern end of the Dead Sea. The five kings of the cities of the plain around the Dead Sea prepared to meet the attack of the four kings.
