Genesis 14:1
Genesis 14:1 in Multiple Translations
In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,
Now in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim,
At that time Amraphel was king of Shinar, and he allied himself with Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim.
And in the dayes of Amraphel King of Shinar, Arioch King of Ellasar, Chedor-laomer King of Elam, and Tidal king of the nations:
And it cometh to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goyim,
In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
And it came to pass at that time, that Amraphel king of Sennaar, and Arioch king of Pontus, and Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites, and Thadal king of nations,
In a region to the east, there were four kings who were friends/allies. They were King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim.
This story is about the people in the flat country, and it started before Lot went to live near the town called Sodom. There were 5 tribes in that flat country at that time, and each tribe had a leader. These were the 5 tribes and their leaders, – A tribe called Sodom, and their leader was called Bera. – A tribe called Gomorrah, and their leader was called Birsha. – A tribe called Admah, and their leader was Shinab. – A tribe called the Zebo mob, and their leader was Shemeber. – A tribe called Zoar. They are also called Bela. There were another 4 tribes in the country to the east. These were those 4 tribes and their leaders, – A tribe called Elam, and their leader was Kedorlayomer. – A tribe called Babylonia, and their leader was called Amrafel. – A tribe called Ellasar, and their leader was called Ariok. – A tribe called the Goy mob, and their leader was Tidal. And Kedorlayomer was the boss over those 4 tribes in the east. Those 4 tribes sent their soldiers to fight the other 5 tribes, and the 4 tribes from the east won. So Kedorlayomer became the boss over the other 5 tribes too. Those 5 tribes let him be their boss for 12 years. Then the next year, their leaders told Kedorlayomer that they didn’t want him to be their boss any more. Kedorlayomer got really angry, and the next year, he got soldiers from the 4 tribes in the east, and they went to fight those 5 tribes. On the way to that fight, Kedorlayomer’s soldiers had other fights with some other tribes, and they won all those fights. They beat the Refa tribe at a place called Ashteroth-Karnayim, and they beat the Zuz tribe at a place called Ham, and they beat the Em tribe at a place called Shaveh-Kiriathayim, and they beat the Hor tribe in the hill country called Edom. They chased the Hor soldiers all the way to a place called El-Paran, near the desert. Then Kedorlayomer and the soldiers from the east, they all went back to a place called En-Mishpat. Another name for that place is Kadesh. Then Kedorlayomer and his mob fought the Amalek tribe and beat them, and took control of their country. Then they fought the Amor tribe in Hazazon-Tamar country, and beat them too. While Kedorlayomer and his mob were fighting those other people, the 5 tribes that didn’t want Kedorlayomer to be their boss, they went to the valley called Sidim. (Today there is salt water in that valley, and we call it the Dead Sea.) The soldiers of those 5 tribes got ready there to fight against Kedorlayomer and his 4 tribes from the east. So when Kedorlayomer and his mob got to that Sidim valley there was a big fight.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 14:1
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 14:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יְהִ֗י
בִּ/ימֵי֙
אַמְרָפֶ֣ל
מֶֽלֶךְ
שִׁנְעָ֔ר
אַרְי֖וֹךְ
מֶ֣לֶךְ
אֶלָּסָ֑ר
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֨מֶר֙
מֶ֣לֶךְ
עֵילָ֔ם
וְ/תִדְעָ֖ל
מֶ֥לֶךְ
גּוֹיִֽם
וַ/יְהִ֗י
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
בִּ/ימֵי֙
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-mp
אַמְרָפֶ֣ל
ʼAmrâphel
H569
Amraphel
N-proper
מֶֽלֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
שִׁנְעָ֔ר
Shinʻâr
H8152
Shinar
N-proper
אַרְי֖וֹךְ
ʼĂryôwk
H746
Arioch
N-proper
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
אֶלָּסָ֑ר
ʼEllâçâr
H495
Ellasar
N-proper
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֨מֶר֙
Kᵉdorlâʻômer
H3540
Chedorlaomer
N-proper
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
עֵילָ֔ם
ʻÊylâm
H5867
Elam
N-proper
וְ/תִדְעָ֖ל
Tidʻâl
H8413
Tidal
Conj | N-proper
מֶ֥לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
גּוֹיִֽם
gôwy
H1471
Gentile
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 14:1
וַ/יְהִ֗י
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בִּ/ימֵי֙
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-mp
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
אַמְרָפֶ֣ל
ʼAmrâphel
H569
"Amraphel"
N-proper
Amraphel was a king of Shinar, a region in ancient Babylon, who lived around the time of Abraham. He is mentioned in Genesis 14:1 as one of the kings who went to war against Sodom and Gomorrah.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Amraphel = "sayer of darkness: fall of the sayer" the king of Shinar (Babylon) (perhaps Hammurabi c 2100 BC)
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Amraphel. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9.
מֶֽלֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
שִׁנְעָ֔ר
Shinʻâr
H8152
"Shinar"
N-proper
Shinar is an ancient name for Babylonia, a region in the Bible where the tower of Babel was built. It is mentioned in Genesis 10:10 and 11:2. Shinar is also known as the country of two rivers.
Definition: § Shinar = "country of two rivers" the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: Shinar. See also: Genesis 10:10; Joshua 7:21; Isaiah 11:11.
אַרְי֖וֹךְ
ʼĂryôwk
H746
"Arioch"
N-proper
Arioch was a Babylonian official who worked for King Nebuchadnezzar during the Exile. His name means lion-like and he is mentioned in Daniel 2:14. He was in charge of the executioners.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Arioch = "lion-like" the ancient king of Ellasar, ally of Chedorlaomer
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: Arioch. See also: Genesis 14:1; Daniel 2:15; Daniel 2:25.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
אֶלָּסָ֑ר
ʼEllâçâr
H495
"Ellasar"
N-proper
Ellasar was an ancient country in Asia, mentioned in Genesis 14, where it was one of the kingdoms that joined forces to fight against Sodom and Gomorrah.
Definition: § Ellasar = "God is chastener" a town in Babylonia, c. 28 miles (50 km) E of Ur
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Ellasar. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9.
כְּדָרְלָעֹ֨מֶר֙
Kᵉdorlâʻômer
H3540
"Chedorlaomer"
N-proper
Chedorlaomer was an early king of Elam who was defeated by Abraham, as told in Genesis 14. His name means handful of sheaves.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Chedorlaomer = "handful of sheaves" the king of Elam defeated by Abraham
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: Chedorlaomer. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:5; Genesis 14:17.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
עֵילָ֔ם
ʻÊylâm
H5867
"Elam"
N-proper
Elam refers to a son of Shem and his descendants, as well as a region, first mentioned in Genesis 10:22. The name means eternity. Elam is also the name of several Israelites, including one mentioned in Nehemiah 12:42.
Definition: § Elam = "eternity" a province east of Babylon and northeast of the lower Tigris
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: Elam. See also: Genesis 10:22; Nehemiah 10:15; Isaiah 11:11.
וְ/תִדְעָ֖ל
Tidʻâl
H8413
"Tidal"
Conj | N-proper
Tidal was a Canaanite leader who lived during the time of the Patriarchs and is first mentioned in Genesis 14. His name means great son.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.14.1 § Tidal = "great son" chief of various nomadic tribes and an ally of Chedorlaomer
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Tidal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9.
מֶ֥לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
גּוֹיִֽם
gôwy
H1471
"Gentile"
N-proper
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Definition: 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) 1c) Goyim? = "nations" Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people. See also: Genesis 10:5; Judges 4:16; Psalms 2:1.
Study Notes — Genesis 14:1
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 14:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 14:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 14:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 14:1
- Barnes' Notes on Genesis 14:1
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
- Sermons on Genesis 14:1
Context — The War of the Kings
1In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim
2went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea ).Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 10:10 | His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. |
| 2 | Genesis 10:22 | The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. |
| 3 | Isaiah 37:12 | Did the gods of the nations destroyed by my fathers rescue those nations—the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar? |
| 4 | Genesis 11:2 | And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. |
| 5 | Isaiah 11:11 | On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 32:24 | Elam is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword— those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit. |
| 7 | Isaiah 22:6 | Elam takes up a quiver, with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovers the shield. |
| 8 | Daniel 1:2 | And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god. |
| 9 | Zechariah 5:11 | “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar, ” he told me. “And when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its pedestal.” |
| 10 | Isaiah 21:2 | A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.” |
Genesis 14:1 Summary
Genesis 14:1 introduces us to four powerful kings who ruled over different parts of the ancient world. These kings, Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, and Tidal, were likely very important and influential in their time, but the Bible doesn't focus on their greatness. Instead, it sets the stage for the events that will unfold and ultimately point to God's plan to bless all nations through Abraham, as seen in Genesis 12:1-3. This verse reminds us that God is sovereign over all the nations and kingdoms of the world, and that he is working out his plan to redeem and bless all people, as seen in Revelation 7:9-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the kings mentioned in Genesis 14:1?
The kings mentioned in Genesis 14:1 are Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, who were rulers of various city-states and regions in the ancient Near East, as seen in Genesis 14:1 and also referenced in other historical accounts.
What can we learn about the world at the time of Genesis 14:1?
From Genesis 14:1, we can see that the world at that time was divided into city-states and kingdoms, each with its own ruler, similar to what is described in Genesis 10:10, where we see the beginnings of these city-states after the flood.
Is there any spiritual significance to the names of these kings?
While the Bible does not provide explicit spiritual significance to the names of these kings, we can see that their actions and alliances, as described in Genesis 14:1-2, have spiritual implications and consequences, as seen in the judgment that follows in Genesis 18:20-33 and Genesis 19:1-29.
How does Genesis 14:1 relate to the rest of the Bible?
Genesis 14:1 sets the stage for the events that unfold in the rest of Genesis 14, which ultimately point to God's covenant with Abraham, as seen in Genesis 15:1-21, and his plan to bless all nations through him, as seen in Genesis 12:1-3 and Galatians 3:8.
Reflection Questions
- What can I learn from the alliances and relationships between these ancient kings, and how can I apply that to my own relationships and alliances today?
- How does the description of these kings and their kingdoms in Genesis 14:1 reflect the fallen state of humanity, and what hope does the Bible offer for redemption?
- In what ways can I, like Abraham, trust in God's sovereignty and provision in the midst of uncertain and chaotic circumstances, as seen in Genesis 14:13-16?
- What does the mention of these specific kings and their territories reveal about God's attention to detail and his care for all nations, as seen in Acts 17:26-27?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 14:1
And it came to pass, in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar,.... Or Babylon, as Onkelos, where Nimrod began his kingdom, Genesis 10:8.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 14:1
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; And it came to pass. This chapter presents Abram in the unexpected character of a warrior.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
GENESIS CHAPTER 14 Several kings wage war against the king of Sodom, &c.; Lot is taken prisoner, . Abram rescues him, . The king of Sodom congratulates him his victory, . Melchizedek king of Salem blesses him; to him Abram gives tithes, . The king of Sodom offers to give Abram the goods taken in victory, ; which Abram refuses to accept, . i.e. Of a people which came to him out of several nations, (being allured possibly by his fame, or by promises and privileges granted to them), and put themselves under his government. Or Goiim is the name of a certain place or country, so called from the confluence of divers people or nations thither, as Tyrus is called the mart of nations, , upon the same account.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
Genesis 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;Ver. 1. In the days of Amraphel,] i.e., Nimrod, as R. Salomon saith: or Ninus, as others. King of nations.] Of a people made up of sundry nations, saith Lyra. Symmachus rendereth it, King of Scythians: others, of Pamphylia.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
XIV. OF THE JORDAN VALLEY BY CHEDOR-LAOMER, KING OF ELAM.(1) It came to pass.—Connected with the settlement of Lot in the Jordan valley is one of the most remarkable episodes in the whole of the Bible, derived either from Canaanite records, or, as Mr. Sayce thinks (Chald. Genesis, p. 72), from those of Babylon. The latter view is made the more probable by the fact that Amraphel, though but a subject king, is placed first; and the way in which the patriarch is described in it, as “Abram the Hebrew,” seems certainly to suggest that we have to do here with a narrative of foreign origin. Its incorporation with the history admirably sets forth the consequences of Lot’s choice in the troubles, and even ruin, which overtook him, the bravery and power of Abram, and his generosity to the rescued kings. It is also most interesting, as showing Abram’s relation to the Amorites, among whom he lived, and the existence in Palestine of a Semitic population, who still worshipped “the most high God,” and over whom one of the noblest figures in the Old Testament was king. The narrative is Jehovistic, for Abram calls God Jehovah El Elton, but is, nevertheless, of such ancient date as to forbid the acceptance of the theory which regards the occurrence of the name Jehovah as a proof of later authorship. Upon Elam and the conquests and route of Chedorlaomer, see Excursus at end of this book. Amraphel.—An Accadian name, which Lenormant has found on Babylonian cylinders, and which he explains as meaning “the circle of the year.” Shinar.—See on Genesis 10:10.
Arioch.—i.e., Eriaku, which in Accadian means “servant of the moon-god.” He was king of Ellasar, i.e., Al-Larsa, the city of Larsa, now called Senkereh. It is situated on the left bank of the Euphrates, in Lower Babylonia, and has contributed some very ancient tablets to the collection in the British Museum. The name occurs again in Daniel 2:14. Tidal.—More correctly in the LXX., Thargal, that is, Tur-gal. the great son (Sayce). In the Syriac he is called “Thargil, king of the Gelae,” the latter being a mistake, through reading Gelim for Goim. This word does not mean “nations,” but is a proper name, spelt Gutium in the inscriptions, “by which the Accadians designated the whole tract of country which extended from the Tigris to the eastern borders of Media, including the district afterwards known as Assyria” (Chald. Gen., p. 197).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
CHAPTER XIV The war of four confederate kings against the five kings of Canaan, 1-3. The confederate kings overrun and pillage the whole country, 4-7. Battle between them and the kings of Canaan, 5, 9. The latter are defeated, and the principal part of the armies of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah slain, 10; on which these two cities are plundered, 11. Lot, his goods, and his family, are also taken and carried away, 12. Abram, being informed of the disaster of his nephew, 13, arms three hundred and eighteen of his servants, and pursues them, 14; overtakes and routs them, and recovers Lot and his family, and their goods, 15, 16; is met on his return by the king of Sodom, and by Melchizedek, king of Salem, with refreshments for himself and men, 17, 18. Melchizedek blesses Abram, and receives from him, as priest of the most high God, the tenth of all the spoils, 19, 20. The king of Sodom offers to Abram all the goods he has taken from the enemy, 21; which Abram positively refuses, having vowed to God to receive no recompense for a victory of which he knew God to be the sole author, 22, 23; but desires that a proportion of the spoils be given to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre, who had accompanied him on this expedition, 24. NOTES ON CHAP. XIV Verse 1.
In the days of Amraphel] Who this king was is not known; and yet, from the manner in which he is spoken of in the text, it would seem that he was a person well known, even when Moses wrote this account. But the Vulgate gives a different turn to the place, by rendering the passage thus: Factum est in illo tempore, ut Amraphel, c. "It came to pass in that time that Amraphel, c." The Chaldee Targum of Onkelos makes Amraphel king of Babylon, others make him king of Assyria some make him the same as Nimrod, and others, one of his descendants. Arioch king of Ellasar] Some think Syria is meant but conjecture is endless where facts cannot be ascertained. Chedorlaomer king of Elam] Dr. Shuckford thinks that this was the same as Ninyas, the son of Ninus and Semiramis; and some think him to be the same with Keeumras, son of Doolaved, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah; and that Elam means Persia; see Genesis 10:22. The Persian historians unanimously allow that Keeumras, whose name bears some affinity to Chedorlaomer, was the first king of the Peeshdadian dynasty. Tidal king of nations] גוים goyim, different peoples or clans. Probably some adventurous person, whose subjects were composed of refugees from different countries.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 14:1
Khammurabi (? Amraphel), King of Babylon, receiving laws from Shamash, the Sun-god. 1–12. The Campaign 1. And it came to pass in the days of] The opening formula of a new Hebrew section. Cf. Rth 1:1; 2 Samuel 21:1; Esther 1:1; Isaiah 7:1. Amraphel] King of Shinar, very generally accepted as the Hebrew reproduction of the name Hammurabi, king of Babylonia about 2150 b.c. (?). On the assumption of this identification it has been conjectured that the last syllable of the name should be “-i” instead of “-el,” i.e. Amraphi.
For Shinar, see note on Genesis 10:10 and Genesis 11:2. Hammurabi is famous as the king who finally freed his kingdom from the yoke of the Elamites, who united northern and southern Babylonia under one rule, and extended his conquests as far west as Palestine. Many cuneiform documents, belonging to his reign and referring to his government, have been discovered and deciphered, most remarkable and important of all being his Code of Laws1[15]. [15] Discovered in Dec. 1901 and Jan. 1902 by M. Le Morgan at Susa. See Driver’s Exodus, Appendix III.Arioch king of Ellasar] Possibly the same as Rim-sin who is said to be referred to in an ancient Sumerian record as Eri-Aku, son of Kudur-Mabug, king of Larsa, and a contemporary of Hammurabi. Ellasar is clearly the Babylonian town Larsa, which is identified with the ruins of the modern Senkereh on the E. bank of the Euphrates in S. Babylonia. We meet with the name of Arioch in a Babylonian court-official (Daniel 2:15); and as a “king of the Elymaeans,” a vassal of Nebuchadnezzar (Jdt 1:6). Chedorlaomer] King of Elam. The name has not hitherto been identified in the history of Western Asia.
In its formation, however, it is genuinely Elamite, i.e. Kudur = “servant,” and Lagamar = an Elamite deity. The supremacy of Elam over all that region of Western Asia about the time of Hammurabi is attested by the ancient documents. For Elam, see note on Genesis 10:22. It is the country called in the Assyrian Elamtu, and in the Greek Elymais, north of the Persian Gulf and east of the Lower Tigris. Its capital was Susa, which appears in the classical form of Susiana. On the overthrow of Elam by the Persians, see Jeremiah 49:34-39. Tidal king of Goiim] The attempts which have been made to identify Tidal have not yet been successful. But there is no reason to suppose that it is a fictitious name; and future research may bring his name to light. Goiim is the regular Hebrew word for “nations,” and therefore seems to be very improbable as the name of a country or city.
It may have been substituted by a Hebrew copyist for some unfamiliar proper name resembling it in pronunciation, or in shape of letters. Thus Sir Henry Rawlinson’s conjecture of Gutim has very generally found favour. The Guti were a people often mentioned in the inscriptions, living in the region of Kurdistan.
Barnes' Notes on Genesis 14:1
- Abram Rescues Lot 1. אמרפל 'amrāpel, Amraphel; related: unknown. אלריוך 'aryôk, Ariok, “leonine?” related: ארי 'arı̂y, “a lion:” a name re-appearing in the time of Daniel Daniel 2:14.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 14:1
1. Amraphel king of Shinar — Successor of Nimrod, and perhaps mentioned first because of his location in this most ancient seat of empire. Comp. Genesis 10:10.
Sermons on Genesis 14:1
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Genesis #12 Ch. 12-13 the Call of Abraham by Chuck Missler | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the transition from the preface of Genesis to the period of the nation. He emphasizes that God's pattern is always the same: there is a call, |
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(Genesis) Genesis 14:1-4 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on chapter 14 of Genesis, which contains the first war and the introduction of the first priest, Melchizedek. The chapter may seem out of place |
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Bristol Conference 1969 by Carl Armerding | The sermon transcript discusses the story of Abraham and his victory over the kings who had captured his nephew Lot. It emphasizes the danger of complacency and pride after experie |
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Two Kingdoms - 1 by Anton Bosch | Anton Bosch addresses the misconception among Christians that they can convert the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that the kingdoms of this world, rule |
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Twee Koninkrijken - 1 (Dutch) by Anton Bosch | Anton Bosch preaches about the misconception among many Christians who believe they can somehow 'convert' worldly kingdoms into God's kingdoms, focusing on influencing governments |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 11:11 - Part 3 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the current state of the world and the need for God's intervention. He expresses concern over the increasing wickedness and rebellion a |
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The Deed to the Land by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the misconceptions and sensationalism surrounding the United States and Israel. He compares the portrayal of America in the media to the reali |