Genesis 14:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

NIV: All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).

NASB: All these kings came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

CSB: All of these came as allies to the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea).

NLT: This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea ).

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

NKJV: All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

The previous two verses listed two sets of kings. The first set of four kings went to war against the second set of five kings, which included the kings of the city-states of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13:13). Their dispute was over who had ultimate control of the region. Specifically, whether or not the rebelling kings would continue to be submissive to the existing regime. The forces led by the four kings were there to put down the rebellious forces led by the five kings.

The five kings gathered their forces at a place called the Valley of Siddim (or the Dead Sea Valley). This region is toward the southern end of the Dead Sea. The five kings of the cities of the plain around the Dead Sea prepared to meet the attack of the four kings.

Genesis 14:1–16 is an action-packed story of war between ancient city-states. Four kings from the east arrive to put down a rebellion by five kings from cities around the Dead Sea. After defeating them, the eastern kings loot Sodom, carrying off Abram's nephew Lot and all he owns in the process. Abram gathers his own small army, along with three Amorite allies, and gives chase. They catch the enemy in the northern reaches of Canaan, defeat them, and recapture all the plunder, including Lot.

This short chapter is packed with action, adventure, and war. An army from the east comes to reestablish its rule over the kings of the city-states of Canaan. Five kings from the Dead Sea region rebel, are defeated, and Sodom is looted. Abram's nephew Lot is captured and taken away. Abram and his own small army chase down the eastern kings, defeating them and recapturing all that was lost. Returning home, Abram is met by a mysterious king and priest of God Most High called Melchizedek.

At first, Genesis 14 seems unrelated to the previous chapter. Four kings from the east come to wage war against the kings and people groups of Canaan, including five kings from cities around the Dead Sea. The eastern kings defeat all challengers, looting Sodom and carrying off Lot and his entire family. Now Abram reappears in the story to chase down the departing army, defeat them in a single night, and retrieve all that was lost. On the way home, he is met by a mysterious king and priest of God Most High known as Melchizedek.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 5/6/2024 12:16:15 PM