The Capture Of Sodom And Gomorrah – The Battle Of Kings (G-14-HBS)

   January 7, 2020
KINGS OF THE EAST CAPTURE SODOM AND GOMORRAH

In chapter 14 we find the first recorded war, one in which Abram delivers Lot; and we find the appearance of the first priest, at which time Abram is blessed by Melchizedek.

These are the two great truths that are here. In one sense, this is a most remarkable chapter. It does not seem to fit in with the story at all.

It seems that it could be left out, that there is a continuity without it. But it is one of the most important chapters in the Book of Genesis.

Genesis 14:1-12 KJV

[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;

[2] That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

[3] All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

[4] Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

[5] And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

[6] And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El–paran, which is by the wilderness.

[7] And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar.

[8] And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

[9] With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

[10] And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

[11] And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

[12] And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

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;

  • If it is to be noticed, the Spirit of God occupies Himself with the movements of “kings and their armies” only when such movements are in any wise connected with the people of God; otherwise, they are of little significance!
  • First of all, let me say that this is a historical document. In the first eleven verses, it is recorded that the kings of the east defeat the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • For quite a few years, the critical, radical scholars rejected this, saying that these men’s names do not appear in secular history at all and that this is a rather ridiculous story.

But did you know that the names of these kings have been found on monuments and tablets, showing that they did exist?

In fact, Amraphel is now known to be the Hammurabi of other secular history.

The record that we have here is tremendously significant.

Genesis 14:2

That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

  • There was war, and this is the first war that is mentioned in Scripture. Mankind began early in making war.
  • Although this is the first war recorded, I do not know that it is the first war that ever took place—I do not think that the writer intends to give that impression.
  • The reason it is recorded is because Lot, the nephew of Abram, is involved.

Genesis 14:3

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.

  • All five are located in a small area at the southern end of the Dead Sea called the Valley of Siddim.
  • Moses calls it the Salt Sea, but we now call it the Dead Sea

Genesis 14:4

Twelve years they served chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

  • These five kings had been ruled by Chedorlaomer for some twelve years, and now they rebel.
  • The rebellion is what brought the kings of the east against Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • These kings evidently had fought before, because the kings of the east had subjugated these cities of the plain, but the cities had reached the place of rebellion.

Genesis 14:5

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

  • In verses 5–11 we read the account of how the kings of the east overcame the kings who had joined together around the lower part of the Dead Sea.

Genesis 14:6

And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

  • In the names “Rephaims,”“Zuzims,” and “Emims,” and possibly even the “Horites,” we have, once again, the entrance of the giants, which were a product of the union of fallen angels and women [6:4]. Irrespective of their size, “Chedorlaomer” defeated them.

Genesis 14:7

And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar.

  • En-mishpat This apparently earlier name means “spring of judgment.” Kadesh would later become a testing time for the children of Israel as they traveled in the desert.

Genesis 14:8

And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

  • Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim.

Genesis 14:9

With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

  • We have in Verse 8 the mention of Sodom, where Lot dwelt, and which causes the interest of Jehovah, and points to the reason for all this being included in these Passages.
  • It is obvious from the Text that Lot was not at all in proper relationship with the Lord; however, the Lord, despite that fact, continued to monitor his every move and, in effect, to exercise a form of security and protection for him, despite his having moved in with the Sodomites.
  • Every Believer should understand the significance of all of this. You are bought with a price; that price is the shed Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 14:10

And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

  • Slimepits – Asphalt. Apparently crude oil. The kings “fell” in the sense of being totally defeated not killed. Asphalt still tends to surface in the south end of the Dead Sea.
  • asphalt pits: The Hebrew term for pits is written twice (“pits pits”), meaning that bitumen pits were everywhere.

Genesis 14:11

And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

  • They remove all the animals, food stores and subjects of the city.
  • With the intent to take them back to Babylon

Genesis 14:12

And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

  • Lot, in his compromised position, could neither deliver Sodom nor himself. The only way to help and bless the world is to live apart from it, in fellowship with God.
  • Lot lived in Sodom and was taken captive.
  • The reason this war is significant to the record here is that it reveals what Abram is going to do in connection with his nephew.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

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