Salem

Smith’s Bible Dictionary · William Smith, F. N. Peloubet, M. A. Peloubet

(peace).

The place of which Melchizedek was king. (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 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 (Psalms 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.
(Psalms 76:2) it is agreed on all hands that Salem is here employed for Jerusalem.

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William Smith; revised by F. N. Peloubet and M. A. Peloubet; CrossWire SWORD module Smith 1.3

Bible Strong digital edition from CrossWire module 1.3, based on the 1884 Peloubet revision with later digital enrichments preserved