SALEM

Biblical GN

1.

A city associated with MELCHIZEDEK in the Old Testament (Alma 13:17–18)

SALEM does not occur as a Book of Mormon GN. In the Hebrew Bible Salem is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18, along with its king, MELCHIZEDEK, which is how it is used in the Book of Mormon. The name can be derived from the common Semitic root šlm, which denotes "peace; wealth; health; completeness," etc. Because Hebrews 7:2 defines the SALEM of MELCHIZEDEK as meaning "peace," there may have been an old tradition that tied "peace" to the SALEM of MELCHIZEDEK. Alma 13:18, "Melchizedek did establish peace. . . therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the kinf of Salem [=peace]," may be playing off this old tradition.