Ir-Hamelach means literally 'city of salt,' aptly named for its location in the desert region near the Dead Sea. Mentioned alongside En-Gedi in Joshua's list of Judah's wilderness towns, its exact site remains unknown to modern archaeology. The Septuagint translates the name literally as 'cities of salt,' reflecting the saline environment. The pairing with En-Gedi suggests it was in that general vicinity, perhaps one of the small settlements that exploited the salt resources of the Dead Sea region.