Salem

Pronunciation: SAY-lem

Founded After the Flood

After the Flood, the company traveled southwest in search of the spring Arvade used to speak of, and found it on the valley floor near good garden ground and pasturage for their sheep and goats, where water issued out from the bottom of a cliff. They started a settlement there and named it Salem, “because of the peace that the cleansing of the earth had brought” (Melchizedek 12:3). The earth was happy to have the tablets of Elda in its keeping “in the encampment of peace” (Melchizedek 12:4).

First Homeland of the Hebrew People

Kebrawn and Ri’umah became the first parents of the Hebrew people, and their first homeland was the encampment of Salem; Hebron, though south of Salem, was named after Kebrawn (Melchizedek 12:142). Thereafter the multitudes came to Salem for the celebration of Shabuwa, Kebrawn and Ri’umah taught the people, and the altar on nearby Mount Pethak came to be called the Altar of the Old Ones (Melchizedek 12:143).

Feared by the Decadarchiy

When Haylek was at Salem with his sons for a Day of Forgiveness, the Decadarchiy stood afar off and looked with dim eyes, being unaccustomed to the light of forgiveness (Little Book 1:99). Only after the establishment of Shabuwa was over did they dare to approach Salem — and Asael then declared war against Shabuwa (Little Book 1:101).

Melchizedek’s Dwelling

In Abraham’s day, Melchizedek and Zedeqetelebab lived in Salem by the spring of Nachash. Their presence subdued the forces of evil in all the regions round about, and the people of Salem and Hebron shared their provisions with them and looked upon them as their elderly holy ones (Moses 3:66–67). Abraham’s mother Idah told him to go to Salem, where Melchizedek would be a father to him (Moses 3:65).

A Second Salem in Egypt

In Egypt, a settlement of the righteous grew up around Joseph’s home, and the righteous Egyptians named it Salem, after the habitation of Melchizedek (Moses 5:54).

The Ancient Site

Generations later, Moses walked northward past Salem, where only a few people remained at “the ancient site of Salem below what became known as the City of David” (Moses 6:50). Salem was one of four cities — with Hebron, Bethel, and Shiloh — where Israel’s leadership was located and its holy days were carried out (Moses 11:70). David went to Salem and asked permission to dwell there with the Jebusites; being known as a peaceable man, he was given a place down the hill from their settlement, which in time became known as the City of David (Moses 13:48).

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