The Dead Sea The Dead Sea is referred to in the OT as the Salt Sea (Gn. 14:3; Nu. 34:3, 12; Dt. 3:17; Jos. 3:16; 12:3; 15:2, 5; 18:19), the Sea of the Arabah (Dt. 3:17; 4:49; Jos. 3:16; 12:3; 2 Ki. 14:25) and the Eastern Sea (Ezk. 47:18; Joel 2:20; Zc. 14:8). It occupies the deepest point of the great rift which extends from the N end of the Jordan Valley S to the East African lakes. Its surface is on average 395 m (c. 1,300 ft) below sea-level, the lowest point on the earth’s surface, and at its