Genesis 14:4

4 For in twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they departed from him. (For they served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and then in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.)

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 began battle 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, that Bela is Zoar (and against the king of Bela, which is now called Zoar).

3 All these came together into the valley of wood, which is now the sea of salt. (And they all came together into the Siddim Valley, which is now the Salt Sea, that is, the Dead Sea.)

4 For in twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they departed from him. (For they served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, and then in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.)

5 Therefore Chedorlaomer came in the fourteenth year, and [the] kings that were with him, and they smited Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and Zuzims with them (and the Zuzims in Ham), and Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

6 and Horites in the hills of Seir (and the Horites in the hill country of Seir), till to the field places of Elparan, which is in (the) wilderness.