Genesis chapter fourteen describes a large battle that took place in the Dead Sea Valley, the “Valley of Siddim.” Four kings from the area of Shinar, or Babel, attacked five kings from the area of Sodom and Gomorrah and defeated them. Another battle in the Dead Sea valley is found in Second Kings 14:7. There King Amaziah defeated the army of Edom.
An extraordinary battle took place during the reign of King Jehoshaphat. The armies of Edom, Moab and Ammon were at Ein Gedi, in the Dead Sea Valley. King Jehoshaphat called all of Judah together for prayer. As a result, the Lord caused Ammon and Moab to utterly destroy the Edomites, and then they turned on each other and totally destroyed each other. When Judah came to where this occurred, there were all the dead bodies. Judah did not battle the enemy. The Lord did. (Second Chronicles 20:20-24)
Scripture does not tell us where this battle took place. All we are told is that “when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness” they saw all the dead bodies. Many believe that this battle took place in the Kidron Valley, but this does not fit the description. The Kidron is a steep-sided ravine, not a valley. Further, had this been going on in the Kidron, you could have seen it from the walls of Jerusalem.
Because the enemy was encamped at Ein Gedi (where there are springs of water) near the Dead Sea, it is possible that the battle took place there. There certainly is sufficient space at Ein Gedi. There is a great space for battles in the Dead Sea Valley, and the space is increasing as the Dead Sea continues to dry up and shrink.
The Prophet Joel tells of a great End Time battle:
“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” – “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.” – Joel 3:2 & 12The Prophet Isaiah describes End Times and the Lord coming from Edom (by the southern portion of the Dead Sea) with His garments stained with blood. (Isaiah 63:1-6) It appears that this describes the Lord returning from defending the remnant of Israel, who have been provided for and living in the wilderness for 3½ years. (Revelation 12:6)
Jehoshaphat means “Jehovah has judged.” I wonder if the Valley of Jehoshaphat is not the Jordan/Dead Sea Valley, where the Lord may defend Israel near Edom. Perhaps this is but one segment of the final battle of the Day of the Lord. Scripture also prophesies Jerusalem being surrounded by all the nations (Zechariah 12:2 and 14:2). And then there is Armageddon, many miles north of Jerusalem. The Jordan/Dead Sea Valley, Jerusalem and Armageddon are three separate places. We know the Lord will be victorious, but we still do not know all the particulars of the End Times events. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Praise His name!