Bereshis 14:2

2 That these made milchamah with Bera Melech Sodom, and with Birsha Melech Amora (Gomorrah), Shinav Melech Admah, and Shemever Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela, which is Tzoar.

Bereshis 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.

Bereshis 14:2 In-Context

1 4 And it came to pass in the yamim of Amraphel Melech Shinar (i.e., Babylon), Aryoch Melech Ellasar, Kedorlaomer Melech Elam, and Tidal Melech Goyim;

2 That these made milchamah with Bera Melech Sodom, and with Birsha Melech Amora (Gomorrah), Shinav Melech Admah, and Shemever Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela, which is Tzoar.

3 All these were joined together in the Valley of Siddim which is the Yam HaMelach (i.e., Dead Sea).

4 Twelve shanah they served Kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 And in the fourteenth year came Kedorlaomer, and the melachim that were with him, and they defeated the Rephaim in Ashterot Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim,