The Salt Sea
The Salt Sea -- or, more familiarly, the Dead Sea -- is the lowest point on the earth's surface at nearly 1300 feet below sea level. Consequently, water flows into the Dead Sea, but it does not flow out. It is the saltiest body of water in the world.
The Jordan River, entering from the north, is the primary source of the Dead Sea, though some smaller rivers also flow in from the east. There are also springs along the western shore. The average rainfall in the region, however, is only a scant 2 inches per year. The body of water earns its reputation as the "Dead Sea" because its high salt content prevents much life in or around it. The surrounding region itself is conspicuous, for it seems odd to the eye to see so large a body of water surrounded mostly by desert. And because the region is so desolate, not much of the biblical story takes place in the area of the Dead Sea. We find a handful of references to the Salt Sea in Scripture. In Genesis 14, it is mentioned as the area where certain kings converged in a local conflict, which ultimately resulted in Lot, his family, and his belongings being taken away as spoils of war. And it is cited in Numbers 34, Deuteronomy 3, Joshua 12, Joshua 15, and Joshua 18 as a natural boundary when identifying certain borders. While the water of the Dead Sea itself does not figure into the story the way that the Sea of Galilee or the Jordan River do, certain noteworthy places are nearby: Qumran, Masada, the Judean Wilderness, and Engedi, where David sought refuge for a time when he was fleeing from Saul. Finally, it may be that the present Dead Sea covers the ill-fated "cities of the plain" where Lot had settled and which God destroyed. And, speaking of Lot, the southwestern coast of the Dead Sea features Jebel Usdum or Mount Sodom. It has been nicknamed "Salt Mountain" because it is said to be comprised almost entirely of rock salt, which naturally brings to mind the infamous fate of Lot's wife. |