Genesis 14:3

All these Probably the kings mentioned in Genesis 14:2, i.e. the five local subject princes. That there should be any doubt whether "all these" refers to the four kings of the east, or to the five kings of the west, is an example of the unskilful style in which this section is written.

joined together The five local kings combined: "the vale of Siddim" was their rallying place. But as "the vale of Siddim" was their own country, the wording is awkward. Hence some prefer R.V. marg. "joined themselves together against," with a change of subject; i.e. the kings of the E. combined and marched against the kings of the W. But the change of subject, interrupting Genesis 14:2; Genesis 14:4, is surely too harsh.

the vale of Siddim Not mentioned elsewhere; but traditionally identified with the Dead Sea, beneath whose waters the "cities of the Plain" were believed by the Israelites to lie engulfed. The suggestion of Renan to read Shêdim("demons"), a word occurring in Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalms 106:37, is ingenious, but lacks support from any other passage mentioning the Dead Sea. LXX τὴν φάραγγα τὴν ἁλυκήν = "the salt valley," Lat. vallem silvestrem.

the Salt Sea An explanatory note, like the reference to Zoar, in the previous verse. "The Salt Sea" is the commonest name in the O.T. for "the Dead Sea": e.g. Numbers 34:3; Numbers 34:12; Joshua 15:2; Joshua 15:5. Another name by which it is called is "the sea of the Arabah," Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 3:16; Joshua 12:3, where "the Salt Sea" is added as an explanation. In Ezekiel 47:18; Joel 2:20, it is called "the eastern sea." Josephus calls it "the sea of Asphalt"; and in the Jewish Talmud it appears as "the sea of Sodom," or "the salt sea." The intense saltness of its waters and its deposits of salt have given rise to its name. Nothing lives in its waters. The name "Dead Sea" goes back to the time of Jerome, 6th cent. a.d.