Dead Sea

In the Bible, the Dead Sea is also known as the Salt Sea, the Sea of the Arabah, the Sea of Sodom, the Sea of Lot, and the Sea of Asphalt. The  term Dead Sea seems to be more appropriate because there is nothing living in its waters because of the high mineral content. However, all of the names suggest something of the nature of this lake.

The Dead Sea plays no significant role in the biblical narrative. Perhaps its most important function was in being a natural barrier between Israel and the armies of the Ammonites and Moabites.

Located on a 4,000 mile fault line, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, the shoreline being 1,300 feet below sea level. No water drains from the lake, so when the water evaporates, it leaves behind mineral deposits causing the salt content to increase. Because of this, the Dead Sea’s salinity ranges from 26-35% making it ten times saltier than the world’s oceans and twice as salty as the Salt Lake in Utah.