Genesis 14:1-9

1 It happened in the days of Amrafel, king of Shin`ar, Aryokh, king of Ellasar, Kedorla`omer, king of `Elam, and Tid`al, king of Goyim,

2 that they made war with Bera, king of Sedom, and with Birsha, king of `Amorah, Shin'av, king of Admah, and Shem'ever, king of Tzevoyim, and the king of Bela (the same is Tzo`ar).

3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).

4 Twelve years they served Kedorla`omer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year Kedorla`omer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Refa'im in `Ashterot-Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim,

6 and the Hori in their Mount Se`ir, to El-Paran, which is by the wilderness.

7 They returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the `Amaleki, and also the Amori, that lived in Hatzatzon-Tamar.

8 There went out the king of Sedom, and the king of `Amorah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Tzevoyim, and the king of Bela (the same is Tzo`ar); and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;

9 against Kedorla`omer king of `Elam, and Tid`al king of Goyim, and Amrafel king of Shin`ar, and Aryokh king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

Genesis 14:1-9 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.