Genesis 14:2

2 made warre wyth Bera kynge of Sodoh and with Birsa kynge of Gomorra. And wythe Sineab kynge of Adama and with Semeaber kynge of Zeboim and wyth the kynge of Bela Which Bela is called Zoar.

Genesis 14:2 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 14:2

[That these] made war with Bera king of Sodom
A city in the plain of Jordan, which with the four following made the Pentapolis, or five cities of the plain. Strabo ^F25 says, in this place formerly were thirteen cities, the metropolis of which was Sodom, and which yet had remaining a compass of sixty furlongs; according to Dr. Lightfoot {z}, it should be placed in the southern extremity of the lake Asphaltites, whereas it is usually set in the maps in the northern bounds of it: and with Birsha king of Gomorrah;
another city in the plain of Jordan, called by Solinus ^F1 Gomorrum: Shinab king of Admah;
a third city situated in the same plain: and Shemeber king of Zeboiim;
a fourth city of the plain, which seems to have its name from the pleasantness of its situation: and the king of Bela, which is Zoar;
so it was afterwards called by Lot, being a little city, ( Genesis 19:20 Genesis 19:22 ) ; but before, Bela; the name of its king is not mentioned, being a person of no great note and importance, and his city small.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Geograph. l. 16. p. 526.
F26 Works, vol. 2. p. 6. Vid. Reland. Palestina illustrata, tom. 2. p. 1020.
F1 Polyhistor. c. 48.

Genesis 14:2 In-Context

1 And it chaunsed within a while that Amraphel kynge of Synear Arioch kynge of Ellasar Kedorlaomer kynge of Elam and Thydeall kynge of the nations:

2 made warre wyth Bera kynge of Sodoh and with Birsa kynge of Gomorra. And wythe Sineab kynge of Adama and with Semeaber kynge of Zeboim and wyth the kynge of Bela Which Bela is called Zoar.

3 All these came together vnto the vale of siddim which is now the salt see

4 Twelve yere were they subiecte to kinge kedorlaomer and in the .xiij. yere rebelled.

5 Therfore in the .xiiij. yere came kedorlaomer and the kynges that were wyth hym and smote the Raphayms in Astarath Karnaim and the Susims in Hain ad the Emyms in Sabe Kariathaim