Places in the Bible Today:

King’s Valley

Data

Translated NamesKing’s Valley, Valley of the King
Typevalley
Notespossibly a different nearby valley
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

5 Possible Identifications

  1. intersection of Kidron Valley and Valley of Hinnom (modern): 45% confidence

    1. panorama of the intersection of the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Hinnomintersection of Kidron Valley and Valley of Hinnom

  2. another name for the Kidron (ancient): 30% confidence

    1. panorama of the Kidron Valley at JerusalemKidron River

  3. another name for the Valley of Hinnom (ancient): less than 10% confidence

    1. panorama of the Hinnom ValleyHinnom Valley

  4. Wadi al Joz (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. cityscape of Wadi al JozWadi al Joz

  5. region around Ramat Rahel (modern): less than 10% confidence

    1. ruins at Ramat Rahelregion around Ramat Rahel

Verses (2)

Gen-Deut (1)
Gen 14:17
1Sam-Esth (1)
2Sam 18:18

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Logos FactbookKing’s Valley
OpenBible.info (2007)King's Valley
OpenBible.infoac9f98d (King’s Valley)
TIPNRKing's_Valley@Gen.14.17
WikipediaList of minor biblical places#Shaveh, Valley of (anchor)

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992)
  2. Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2013): Shaveh
  3. Baly, Atlas of the Biblical World (1971): Jerusalem
  4. Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000): King’s Valley
  5. Hamilton, Genesis (1995): 14:17
  6. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (2011): King’s Valley
  7. Hartley, Genesis (2000): 14:17
  8. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  9. Holman Illustrated Guide to Bible Geography (2020): page 134
  10. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): 2Sam 18:18
  11. Matthews, Genesis (1996, 2005): 14:17
  12. New Bible Dictionary (1996)
  13. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  14. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988)
  15. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): King’s Valley
  16. Waltke and Fredricks, Genesis (2001): 14:17
  17. Wenham, Genesis (1987, 1994): 14:17
  18. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): King’s Dale
  19. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010): King’s Valley

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

DYKT Mohigan, Chris Yunker, Dror Feitelson, celeumo.Brazil, Bukvoed

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.