[Wonder Warthog]

"I have no idea what the condition of this area was when Abraham found it - I suppose it is described in the Bible. But a lot can happen in 5000 years - especially back then!"

Since it is close to Jerusalem, Melchizedek was priest-king of a thriving kingdom there.

[cookcounty]

Yes, Genesis 14 refers to Melchizadek (“ righteous king”) as the “king of Salem” , and Salem is an alternate form of Jeru-Salem (“city of Peace”).