Genesis 14:4

4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Genesis 14:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 14:4

Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer
King of Elam, who was of the race of Shem, and so the prophecy of Noah began to be fulfilled, that Canaan should be servant to Shem, ( Genesis 9:26 ) ; for the kings of Sodom and their subjects, were of the race of Ham in the line of Canaan, who had by violence seized on that part of the earth which was allotted to the sons of Shem, and therefore Chedorlaomer being a descendant of his claimed his right, and made them tributary to him, which they were for the space of twelve years: and in the thirteenth year they rebelled;
refused homage to Chedorlaomer and to pay tribute to him.

Genesis 14:4 In-Context

2 made war against Bera king of Sodom and against Birsha king of Gomorrah and against Shinab king of Admah and against Shemeber king of Zeboiim and against the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim and the Zuzims in Ham and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim

6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir unto the plain of Paran, which is by the wilderness.