salem Summary and Overview

peace, commonly supposed to be another name of Jerusalem (Gen. 14:18; Ps. 76:2; Heb. 7:1, 2).

(peace). 1. The place of which Melchizedek was king. #Ge 14:18; Heb 7:1,2| No satisfactory identification of it is perhaps possible. Two main opinions have been current from the earliest ages of interpretation: (1). That of the Jewish commentators, who affirm that Salem is Jerusalem, on the ground that Jerusalem is so called in #Ps 76:2| Nearly all Jewish commentators hold this opinion. (2). Jerome, however, states that the Salem of Melchizedek was not Jerusalem, but a town eight Roman miles south of Scythopolis, and gives its then name as Salumias, and identifies it with Salem, where John baptized. 2. #Ps 76:2| it is agreed on all hands that Salem is here employed for Jerusalem.

SA'LEM (peace), the place of which Melchizedek was king Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1-2. This word is only used elsewhere in Ps 76:2. Some would interpret it, in the first two passages, not as signifying a place, but that Melchizedek was "king of peace." The majority understand it to mean a place, and it is usually interpreted as referring to Jerusalem. Thus Josephus understood it. The name "Jireh," from Gen 22:14, was supposed to have been added to "Salem" to form "Jerusalem," but this is uncertain. Jerome made the Salem of Gen 14:18 and the Shalem of Gen 33:18 identical, and fixed it 6 miles from Scythopolis, while Van de Velde discovered the name in that neighborhood; but if such a Salem existed, it cannot be proved to be the town of Melchizedek. There might be an identity between Salem and Salim. See Salim.

("peace".) The oldest name, Jehus the next, Jerusalem ("seeing", or "the foundation of peace") the latest, of Jerusalem. The cities of the plain were probably S. of the Dead Sea; so Salem is Jerusalem, and "the king's dale" the valley of the Kedron. The theory of their being N. of the Dead Sea is what necessitates its upholders to seek Salem far north of Jerusalem (Genesis 14:17-18). But no king of Salem distinct from Jerusalem is mentioned among the kings conquered by Joshua. Moreover, Adonizedek ("lord of righteousness") king of Jerusalem (Joshua 10:3) was plainly successor of Melchizedek ("king of righteousness"), it was the common title of the Jebusite kings. Further, "the king's dale" (2 Samuel 18:18), identified in Genesis 14:17 with Shaveh, is placed by Josephus and by tradition (the targum of Onkelos) near Jerusalem (Hebrews 7:1-2). Lastly, Psalm 76 identifies Salem with Jerusalem.