joined forces
The Hebrew root for "joined forces" is "חָבַר" (chabar), meaning to ally or unite. This action signifies a strategic alliance, emphasizing the necessity of unity in the face of a common threat. In the biblical narrative, such alliances often foreshadow significant events, underscoring the importance of cooperation and shared goals among leaders. This unity among the kings serves as a backdrop for the unfolding drama involving Abram, highlighting the contrast between worldly alliances and divine intervention.

in the Valley of Siddim
The "Valley of Siddim" is identified with the area near the Dead Sea. The Hebrew "שִׂדִּים" (Siddim) suggests a plain or field, possibly indicating a fertile area before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Archaeological evidence suggests that this region was once more hospitable, supporting the biblical account of its transformation. The valley's mention sets the stage for the battle and subsequent events, illustrating the transient nature of earthly power and the enduring consequences of sin.

(that is, the Salt Sea)
The "Salt Sea" refers to the Dead Sea, known for its high salinity and inhospitable environment. The Hebrew "יָם הַמֶּלַח" (Yam HaMelach) literally means "Sea of Salt." This geographical marker not only provides historical context but also symbolizes desolation and judgment. In the biblical narrative, the Salt Sea serves as a reminder of God's judgment on sin, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It underscores the theme of divine justice and the ultimate futility of human endeavors apart from God.

The vale of Siddim.--Mr. Conder (Tent-work, ii. 16) says that the name Sidd is still given by the Arabs to the cliffs or banks of marl which run along the southern edge of the plain of Jericho; and with this agrees Aben-Ezra's explanation, who derives the word from the Hebrew sid, chalk. Mr. Conder searched throughout the Ciccar for traces of the ruined cities, but in vain; and "the gradual rise of the level of the plain, caused by the constant washing down of the soft marl from the western hills, would effectually," he thinks, "cover over any such ruins." He found, however, copious springs of water upon the north-western side of the lake, and considers that the five cities were in their neighbourhood.

Which is the salt sea.--From these words commentators have rashly concluded that the vale of Sodom was swallowed up by the Dead Sea; but not only is no such convulsion of nature mentioned in Genesis 19, but Abram is described as seeing the Ciccar-land not submerged, but smoking like a furnace (Genesis 19:28). Probably "the vale of Siddim" was the name of the whole district in which these sidds, or bluffs, are situated, and which extend round all the northern shores of the lake. Mr. Conder, after tracing the lines of former beaches, which show that the Dead Sea has long been shrinking in extent, tells us (Tent-work, ii. 43) that geologists hold that it had reached its present condition long before the days of Abram. It still, indeed, covered a much larger space, for the rains at that time were far more copious in Palestine than at present; but it no longer extended over the whole Arabah, as, by the evidence of these beaches, was once the case.

(3) The Horites.--Cave-men, the aboriginal inhabitants of Mount Seir, subsequently conquered by the Edomites (Deuteronomy 2:12; Deuteronomy 2:22). The miserable condition of these earth-men is described in Job 30:3-8. . . .