Shaveh
“Plain”
Summary
An ancient valley near Jerusalem, also called 'the king's dale,' where Abraham met the king of Sodom after his victory over Chedorlaomer.
☩Location and Significance
The valley of Shaveh is mentioned in Genesis 14:17 as the place where the king of Sodom came out to meet Abraham after his victorious return from rescuing Lot and defeating Chedorlaomer and his allies. It is identified as 'the valley of the king.' The Hebrew word Shaveh means 'plain' or 'valley.'
☩Absalom's Pillar
The 'valley of the king' is mentioned again in 2 Samuel 18:18 as the site where Absalom erected a pillar for himself because he had no son to carry on his name. Whether this refers to the same location as the Shaveh of Genesis is uncertain. The monument traditionally called 'Absalom's Tomb' in the Kidron Valley likely dates from Roman times and is not the actual pillar of Absalom.
References
- 1.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Shaveh," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 2.George Morrish, "Shaveh," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shaveh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Shaveh," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.John McClintock and James Strong, "Shaveh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).