Genesis 14:1

The War of the Kings · Genesis 14:1–9
Read Genesis 14

Translations

Modern
In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim
Traditional
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;
Literal
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,
Latin
Factum est autem in illo tempore, ut Amraphel rex Sennaar, et Arioch rex Ponti, et Chodorlahomor rex Elamitarum, et Thadal rex gentium

Original

Hebrew
English
In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim

Notes

Tidal apparently ruled several city-states. The text calls his people Goiim, which means “nations” in Hebrew.

Archaeology has not identified these kings. But ancient texts include similar names, which supports the report’s reliability. The Mesopotamian kings were allies under one leading ruler, likely Amraphel, who is named first.

In this typical ancient political conflict, powerful kings allied to control smaller dependent states.

Theme notes and profiles

Abraham Lot Melchizedek Invasion Symbolic Numbers

People

Amraphel: King of Shinar, ally of Chedorlaomer Arioch: King of Ellasar, ally of Chedorlaomer Chedorlaomer: King of Elam, led coalition against Sodom and Gomorrah Goiim: A king of Goyim who fought alongside Chedorlaomer Tidal: King of Goiim, ally of Chedorlaomer

Places

Elam: Ancient kingdom east of Babylon; ally and enemy of Israel Ellasar: Mesopotamian city-state; allied with Elam against Sodom and Gomorrah Shinar: Ancient region in Mesopotamia, associated with Babylon

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Amraphel Arioch Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Chaldea, Chaldeans Chedorlaomer Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Cities of the Plain Ebla Tablets Elam (Place), Elamites Ellasar Genesis, Book of Goiim Kedorlaomer King’s Highway Lot Melchizedek Palestine Patriarchs, Period of the Shinar Sodom and Gomorrah Tidal Travel

Topics

Amorites: Struck Down by Chedorlaomer and Rescued by Abraham Amraphel: King of Shinar Arioch: King of Ellasar Armies: Antiquity of Assyria: Called: Shinar Babylon: Empire of Armies of, Invade Ancient Canaan Babylon: Empire of Called Land of Shinar Chedorlaomer: King of Elam Confederacies of Kings Elam: A District Southeast of Babylon, on Persian Gulf Ellasar: Its King Invades Canaan Government: Imperial Lot: The Son of Haran: Taken Captive by Chedorlaomer; Rescued by Abraham Sodom: King of, Joins Other Kings of the Nations Resisting the Invasion of Chedorlaomer Tidal: King of Nations (Rv , Goiim)