Genesis 14:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness.

NIV: and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert.

NASB: and the Horites on their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

CSB: and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as El-paran by the wilderness.

NLT: and the Horites at Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness.

KJV: And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.

NKJV: and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness.

The previous verse describes how the four eastern kings, led by Chedorlaomer, went to war against the city-states in the Canaan in response to a rebellion against their rule. Their route took them south through Canaan along a line east of the Jordan River, defeating all in their path, including in this verse the Horites in the hill country of Seir all of the way to the edge of the southern wilderness.

The next verses will describe where their route of destruction took them next as they turned back toward the north. This path will take them through the region occupied by Lot, the nephew of Abram (Genesis 11:31; Genesis 12:4). Their conquest will inspire Abram to take drastic, heroic action.

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 5/12/2024 11:38:34 PM