Are there any sources from chazal explaining the significance of the Dead Sea in Israel.
(what is it doing here and why)
The Dead Sea is a very unusual phenomena worldwide. it also happens to be the lowest point on earth.
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Sign up to join this communityAre there any sources from chazal explaining the significance of the Dead Sea in Israel.
(what is it doing here and why)
The Dead Sea is a very unusual phenomena worldwide. it also happens to be the lowest point on earth.
The Midrash Tanchuma in Parshas Lech L'cha (8) writes:
עָשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה אֶת בֶּרַע, שֶׁהָיָה רַע לַשָּׁמַיִם וְלַבְּרִיּוֹת. בִּרְשַׁע, שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה רָשָׁע. שִׁנְאָב, שֶׁהָיָה שׂוֹנֵא לָאָב שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. שֶׁמְאֵבֶר, שֶׁאָמַר אֶעֱלֶה בָּאֵבֶר עַל בָּמֳתֵי עָב. כָּל אֵלֶּה חָבְרוּ אֶל עֵמֶק הַשִּׂדִּים, שֶׁהָיְתָה מְנִיקָה אוֹתָן כְּשֵׁם שֶׁשָּׁדַיִם מְנִיקִין אֶת הַתִּינוֹק. הוּא יָם הַמֶּלַח, שֶׁבַּעֲוֹנָם נַעֲשָׂה אוֹתוֹ עֵמֶק לְמַיִם מְלוּחִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: אֶרֶץ פְּרִי לִמְלֵחָה (תהלים קז, לד), לָמָּה? מֵרָעַת יוֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ (תהלים קז, לד) וכו
That is, the Sea of Salt (i.e. the Dead Sea) became a valley for salt due to the sins of the 4 kings.
It is mentioned in the Torah (Bereishis 14:3) כָּל אֵלֶּה חָבְרוּ אֶל עֵמֶק הַשִּׂדִּים הוּא יָם הַמֶּלַח: All these joined in the valley of Siddim, which is the Dead Sea.
There, Rashi comments that the Dead Sea wasn't part of the original creation, but the sea flowed into it later. He also quotes a Midrash that the rocks split and rivers flowed into it.
הוא ים המלח: לאחר זמן נמשך הים לתוכו ונעשה ים המלח. ומדרש אגדה אומר שנתבקעו הצורים סביבותיו ונמשכו יאורים לתוכו:
For other sources of Chazal, see here