Salem (sâ'lem), peace. The city of Melchizedek. Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:1-2. Jewish commentators affirm that Salem is Jerusalem, on the ground that Jerusalem is so called in Psalms 76:2. Nearly all Jewish commentators hold this opinion. Jerome, however, states that the Salem of Melchizedek was not Jerusalem, but a town eight Roman miles south of Scythopolis, and identifies it with Salim, where John baptized. See Salim.