Genesis 14:1-5

Abram Rescues Lot

1 At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar,[a] Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim,
2 these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
3 All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).
4 For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim

Genesis 14:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 14

This chapter gives an account of a war that was waged, and a battle fought between four kings on one side, and five on the other, and of the occasion and issue of it, who were the first kings, and this the first battle the Scriptures speak of, Ge 14:1-11; Lot and his goods being taken and carried off, with those of Sodom, by the conquerors, Abram hearing of it armed his men, and pursued after them, and overtook and overcame them, and rescued Lot and his goods, with others, and returned, Ge 14:12-16; when he was met by the kings of Sodom and Salem, who congratulated him on his victory, Ge 14:17-19; and what passed between him, and those great personages, is related, Ge 14:20-24.

Cross References 11

  • 1. S Genesis 10:10
  • 2. ver 4,9,17
  • 3. S Genesis 10:22
  • 4. S Genesis 10:19
  • 5. S Genesis 13:10
  • 6. ver 8,10
  • 7. Numbers 34:3,12; Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 3:16; Joshua 12:3; Joshua 15:2,5; Joshua 18:19
  • 8. S ver 1
  • 9. S ver 1
  • 10. Genesis 15:20; Deuteronomy 2:11,20; Deuteronomy 3:11,13; Joshua 12:4; Joshua 13:12; Joshua 17:15; 1 Chronicles 20:4
  • 11. Deuteronomy 2:10

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9
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