Preface: This chapter begins as a war between two sets of royal alliances. However, when Lot is taken captive, Abram and his fellows take it upon themselves to get involved. This is also warning discipline for Sodom and Gomorrah (a warning which they took no note of).

This should be the most extensive examination of Genesis 14 available, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text.

Outline of Chapter 14:

Introduction

         vv.     1–3           War of the Kings—Summary

         vv.     4–7           War of the Kings—Prelude

         vv.     8–12         War of the Kings

         vv.    13–16         Abram Deploys Against the Kings of the East

         vv.    17–24         Abram, Melchizedek and the King of Sodom

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Introduction         Links to the JEPD Theory (also known as Documentary Hypothesis)

         Introduction         The Prequel of Genesis 14

         Introduction         The Principals of Genesis 14

         Introduction         The Abrahamic Timeline for Genesis 14

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Genesis 14

         Introduction         What We Learn from Genesis 14—A Preview

         v.       1              Summary of the 4 Kings of the Eastern Alliance

         v.       1              Map of the 4 Kings

         v.       1              The World of the Old Testament (map)

         v.       5              A stele from the Tophet in Carthage (today Tunisia) (graphic)

         v.       6              The Horites/Hivites

         v.       6              Route of the Kings of the East (map)

         v.       7              The Route of the Kings of the East (map)

         v.       7              The Strategy and Tactics of the Kings of the East

         v.      13              The Word “Hebrew”

         v.      14              Delving into Rûwq

         v.      18              The Melchizedek Special

         v.      18              Melchizedek is a real person; he is not a Theophany

         v.      18              Melchizedek Blesses Abraham (a graphic)

         v.      18              Jesus Claimed to be God—a Logical Approach

         v.      18              Melchizedek is the Type; Jesus Christ is the Antitype

         v.      18              Melchizedek in Psalm 110

         v.      18              Melchizedek in the New Testament

         v.      18              Post-Diluvian Heathenism

         v.      18              The Priesthoods of God

         v.      19              The Doctrine of Redemption

         v.      19              The Illustration of the Slave Market of Sin

         v.      19              The Seeds of Genesis in the first 14 Chapters

         v.      19              Progressive Revelation

         v.      20              The Doctrine of Tithing

         v.      20              Modern Applications of Tithing

         v.      21              The Stages of National Discipline insert

         v.      23              The Contents of Abram’s Spiritual Victory

         v.      24              Map of the British Empire

         Summary            Chapter Summary

         Summary            An Abbreviated Exegesis of Genesis 14

         Addendum          A Retrospective of Genesis 14

         Addendum          What We Learn from Genesis 14

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          Edersheim Summarizes Genesis 14

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Genesis 14

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Genesis 14

         Addendum          Word Cloud from the Kukis Paraphrase of Genesis 14

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Genesis 14

——————————

An Introduction to Genesis 14

I ntroduction: Genesis 14 is one of the most unusual chapters in the Bible. The first time I studied it, I had a difficult time understanding its purpose. Now, it makes perfect sense. There are quite a number of important doctrines hidden in this chapter, including the stages of national discipline, blessing by association, and the national impact of the individual believer.

This is an odd chapter, and J. Vernon McGee observed that, if you removed this chapter from the narrative of Genesis, it would be unnoticeable. You would not feel as if you had missed out on anything, but to leave this chapter out would be to leave out one of the greatest chapters found in the Bible.

If you want to start out with a brief overview of this chapter, may I suggest Wells Bible Study on Gen. 14 (this will open up either PowerPoint or Presentations on your computer).

In Genesis 14, Abram is going to face adversity head on. The land of promise is going to be overrun by war, and, instead of running down to Egypt again, Abram is going to hold his ground, and, when it becomes necessary, he will become directly involved. This indicates that Abram has advanced spiritually.

The next thing that we need to examine is point of view. This portion of Genesis, from Genesis 11:27–24:67 (or thereabouts), seems to have been written (or recounted) by Abram originally. However, he is not an immediate participant in chapter 14. How did Abram know all this information? Abram has a large number of people with him. The impression at first, is that perhaps he had 5–20 servants or families with him. Au contraire. He probably traveled with a band of at least 350–1000 people. Lot, via blessing by association, probably had a similar entourage. Abram certainly did more than just travel about. He would have had scouts with him and interpreters. He would have, over several years, collected information about the peoples who inhabited the lands that he traversed. He was not a simple nomad bumbling across the land the best that he could. How do we know this? When faced with famine in chapter 12, he knows that famine exists throughout the land that he is in but that he might be able to find respite in Egypt. He knew enough about the land and the peoples to attempt that bit of duplicity with Sarai. This indicates that Abram in his wandering, did this in an educated way. He found out about the land and the peoples around him. This information of the beginning of chapter 14 was not necessarily pieced together immediately; he certain knew some of these people by names prior to his skirmish with some of them, and ascertained the other names after he emerged victorious.

Another introductory remark is we have these people called kings. This evokes in our mind a kingly realm or a country of perhaps millions of people, a country which might be the size of Colorado. We have to lose that notion. These are rulers over a tribe of people. If, in the first millennium b.c., we have the advent of the city-state, these countries or kingdoms are likely much smaller. My estimate is that these countries might be the size of a city and might have anywhere from 3000 to 100,000 population. These city-states would be organized, some more than others, and would have some form of government, and they would trade and do business with other groups. The fact that there are no recorded skirmishes with Abram prior to this is God's grace. Abram might have passed through the land these few times as invisible to the inhabitants (I'm speaking figuratively).

A final point of introduction is a mention of a famous theory which many people fell into: the JEPD theory; this is where it was believed that at least three different people wrote the Pentateuch, at various times, each having his own particular vocabulary (one used the name Elohim for God, another used the name Jehovah for God, etc.). This was discussed back in Genesis 11 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) (in the special section on archeology).

It was a foolish thought which had someone during the four centuries prior to the first advent weaving these various narratives together. Their reasons for this theory were: (1) different chapters of Genesis have a slightly different vocabulary; (2) man was not advanced enough to write in Moses' time; (3) it is impossible to prophecy with any accuracy, so every prophecy had to be written after the event occurred. These objections are easy to deal with: different subjects require different vocabularies. If I discuss a television program with a friend, I will use one set of vocabulary words; if I teach a lesson in differential calculus, I will use a different vocabulary; if I teach a portion of Scripture, I will use yet another and different vocabulary. Man was very likely able to write from the earliest times. God has the ability to see into the future, as time is His invention, so he can tell us in time what will happen in the future. The thrust of the JEPDer's is to take divine inspiration out of the Bible and to make it a book like any other book, despite the evidence to the contrary. Why do I mention this theory here? I mention it because this vocabulary does not match any of the vocabularies used by J or E or P. The reason it doesn’t is two-fold: (1) there is, in reality, no J, no E and no P; and, (2) the vocabulary does not match even the imaginary J, E or P because it is different subject matter than what is dealt with in the rest of Genesis; therefore, there is a different, specific vocabulary.

There are a lot of moving parts in this chapter. There are 9 different kings involved in this chapter; there will be those who conquer and those who serve. There is going to be several other groups of people involved in this chapter, incidentally. However, the Bible will focus upon Abraham and Lot. This is because God is interested in those who have believed in Him. God has made several specific promises to Abram, so God must make certain that these promises comes to pass. Furthermore, God controls history, no matter how many players are on the field. God controls history to achieve the outcome which He requires.

Application: How does this apply to you? You might find yourself in the middle of a depression or in the midst of a war or in some other national or regional disaster. If you have believed in Jesus Christ, then God is concerned about you specifically. Furthermore, the Bible is filled with promises. There are more promises in the Bible which God has made to us as believers than He made ot Abraham—far more. God has to keep these promises. Otherwise, God is not God.

There are a number of reasons why the United States is headed for a great economic collapse, but one of them is, many people, including believers, think that they can develop a system of government which will take care of everyone. They think that they can pass a few laws and organize a few bureaucracies, and that everyone’s needs will be taken care of. Children who show up to school hungry? Government will feed them. People who did not save their money for their old age? Government will take care of them. People without medical insurance at the end of their lives when they most need it? Uncle Sam—who is now Dr. Sam—will see that they get whatever medical treatment is necessary. Such promises have led us on a road to economic collapse. Government cannot become God. Government cannot be all things to all men. Should a people not look to their God? (Isaiah 8:19b). God can make promises and these promises stand forever. Man cannot. The grass withers and the flower fades: but the Word of our God shall stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). God forever remembers His covenant, the promise He ordained for a thousand generations (Psalm 105:8). “I will remember the promise that I made with you when you were young, and I will make it a promise that will last forever.” (Ezekiel 16:60).

The Abrahamic Timeline for Genesis 14

Every believer faces a set of problems. Sometimes they never seem to end. Abram’s first great problem in the land of Canaan was, he was living in the midst of an economic depression. His solution was to run from it, which is no solution at all. This is how he ended up in Egypt, a place of no spiritual blessing; and a time period during which Abram had no contact with God.

The contents of the first half of the chapter are as follows: a great war breaks out, one that we might understand to be the first world war; or, a war which takes in many of the main players on the world stage in the Middle East.

Then Lot is going to find himself caught up in the midst of this, and he is taken as a slave by one side of this war of kings. Then Abram will lead a very small battalion of 318 soldiers against what is easily a brigade (2000–5000) and quite probably a division (10,000–20,000) of hardened, well-trained soldiers. Furthermore, he will defeat the much larger coalition of professional soldiers with his little rag-tag band of citizen-soldiers.

The result is a great spiritual victory for Abram and God will reward him. He will meet King Melchizedek, a type of Christ, and, in my opinion, will be the recipient of one of the greatest spiritual handoffs in the history of man.

——————————

War of the Kings—Summary

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. Taken from http://targum.info/targumic-texts/pentateuchal-targumim/ and first published in 1862.

Ancient texts:

Targum (trans. By Cook)        And it was in the days of Amraphel,--he is Nimrod, who commanded Abram to be cast into the furnace; he was then king of Pontos; Ariok, (so called) because he was (arik) tall among the giants, king of Thalasar, Kedarlaomer, (so called) because he had bound himself (or gone over) among the bondmen of the king of Elam, and Thidal, crafty as a fox, king of the peoples subjected to him, --made war with Bera, whose deeds were evil, king of Sedom, and with Birsha, whose deeds were with the wicked, king of Amora: Shinab, who had hated his father, king of Admah, and Shemebar, who had corrupted himself with fornication, king of Zeboim; and the king of the city which consumed (Bela) the dwellers thereof, which is Zoar.

Latin Vulgate                          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, Made war against Bara, king of Sodom, and against Bersa, king of Gomorrha, and against Sennaab, king of Adama, and against Semeber, king of Seboim, and against the king of Bala, which is Segor.

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so he is in days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Eliasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim—they manufactured war with Bera king of Sodom and Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah and Shemeber king of Zeboiim and king of Bela, she [is] Zoar.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    AND it came to pass in the days of Amarphel king of Sinar, Arioch king of Dalasar, Cardlaamar king of Elam, and Tarael king of Gelites That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemer king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar.

Septuagint (Greek)                And it came to pass in the reign of Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, that Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, and with Shinab, king of Adamah, and with Shemeber king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela, (that is, Zoar).

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           Abram rescues Lot

While Amraphel was king of Shinar, Ellasar's King Arioch, Elam's King Chedorlaomer, and Goiim's King Tidal declared war on Sodom's King Bera, Gomorrah's King Birsha, Admah's King Shinab, Zeboiim's King Shemeber, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar.

Contemporary English V.       About this time, King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim attacked King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, also known as the city of Zoar.

Easy English                          4 kings fight against 5 kings, 14:1-12

At that time, Amraphel was the king of Shinar and Arioch was the king of Ellasar. Chedorlaomer was the king of Elam and Tidal was the king of Goiim. Those 4 kings made war with 5 other kings. These 5 kings included Bera the king of Sodom, and Birsha the king of Gomorrah. There were Shinab the king of Admah, and Shemeber the king of Zeboiim. And there was the king of Bela (the place that is also called Zoar).

Easy-to-Read Version            Amraphel was the king of Shinar. Arioch was the king of Ellasar. Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam. And Tidal was the king of Goiim. All these kings fought a war against Bera the king of Sodom, Birsha the king of Gomorrah, Shinab the king of Admah, Shemeber the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.).

Good News Bible (TEV)         Four kings, Amraphel of Babylonia, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, went to war against five other kings: Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (or Zoar).

The Message                         Then this: Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim went off to war to fight Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar.

New Berkeley Version           In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of the nations [Here sacred and secular history meet and dating becomes more feasible. Shinar corresponds to Babylonia (Dan. 1:2 Isaiah 11:11 Zech 5:11) though Amraphel is not to be identified with Hammurabi, king of Babel, who reigned about 1728–1686, Erisku, king of Larsa, may have been Arioch. Chedorlaomer-Kudurlagamar—means “Servant of Lagamar,” an Elamite god. Tidal, king of nations, has been identified as Tudhul, king of Gutium, located north-east of Babylonia.], these kings made war against Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah, Shemeber, king of Zeboiim and king of Belah, that is of Zoar.

New Century Version             Lot Is Captured

Now Amraphel was king of Babylonia, Arioch was king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer was king of Elam, and Tidal was king of Goiim. All these kings went to war against several other kings: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.)

New Living Translation           Abram Rescues Lot

About this time war broke out in the region. King Amraphel of Babylonia,[a] King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).

The Voice                               Back when King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim ruled the land, these four kings formed an alliance and made war on five other kings: Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (a city now known as Zoar).

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          It was during the reign of AmarPhal (the king of ShinaAr) and AriOch (the king of ElLasar), that ChodolLogomor (the king of Elam) and Thargal (the king of the Gentiles) went to war against BalLa (the king of Sodom), Barsa (the king of GomorRah), Shinar (the king of Adama), Symobor (the king of Seboim), and Balac (or Segor).

Christian Community Bible     At the time of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings made war on Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shi nab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

New Advent (Knox) Bible       It chanced at this time that Amraphel, the king of Sennaar, and Arioch, King of Pontus [`Of Pontus'; so the Latin version, whereas the Hebrew text and the Septuagint Greek have `of Ellasar'. It is not likely that Pontus on the southern shore of the Black Sea is meant; the other kings all lived east of Palestine.], and Chodorlahomor, king of Elam, and Thadal, king of the barbarians, 2 went out to war. And their enemies were Bara, king of Sodom, Bersa, king of Gomorrha, Sennaab, king of Adama, Semeber, king of Seboim, and the king of Bala (or Segor).

New American Bible              In the days of [In the days of . . . : the personal name by which the event is dated has not been preserved.]. . . , Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim made war on Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

New American Bible (R.E.)    The Four Kings.

When Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim made war on Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar), all the latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea [= the Dead Sea]). V. 3 is included for context. Abraham plays a role with other world leaders. He defeats a coalition of five kings from the east (where, later, Israel's enemies lived) and is recognized by a Canaanite king as blessed by God Most High. The historicity of the events is controverted; apart from Shinar (Babylon), Tidal (Hittite Tudhaliya), and Elam, the names and places cannot be identified with certainty. The five cities were apparently at the southern end of the Dead Sea, and all but Bela (i.e., Zoar) were destined for destruction (19:20-24; Hos 11:8). The passage belongs to none of the traditional Genesis sources; it has some resemblance to reports of military campaigns in Babylonian and Assyrian royal annals.

NIRV                                      Abram Saves Lot

At that time Amraphel was the king of Babylonia. Arioch was the king of Ellasar. Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam. And Tidal was the king of Goiim. They went to war against five kings. The kings were Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. Bela was also called Zoar.

New Jerusalem Bible             When Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedor-Laomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of the Goiim, made war on Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar), all the latter joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (now the Salt Sea). V. 3 is included for context.

Revised English Bible            In those days King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim went to war against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      It was in the days of King Amraphel of Central-Iraq, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of South-Iran, and King Tidal of the nations: They made war with King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboim, and the King of Bela (it's Zoar).

The Expanded Bible              Lot Is Captured

Now Amraphel was king of ·Babylonia [^LShinar], Arioch was king of Ellasar [^Cpossibly in Mesopotamia], Kedorlaomer was king of Elam [^Clocated on the Iranian plateau], and Tidal was king of Goiim [^Cpossibly a people otherwise known as the Umman-manda]. All these kings went to war against several other kings: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.) [^CSodom and Gomorrah were located in the vicinity of the Dead Sea, and the other named cities are thought to have been nearby.].

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 War of Abram with the Five Kings

It was now in the reign of Amrafel, king of Shinar, Ariok, king of Ellassar, Kedarlaomer, king of Elam, and Thidal, king of the Gentiles, and they waged war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Bersha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Zeboiim, and king Bela of Zoar.

NET Bible®                             The Blessing of Victory for God's People

At that time [The sentence begins with the temporal indicator וַיְהִי (vay^ehi) followed by "in the days of."] Amraphel king of Shinar [Shinar (also in Gen_14:9) is the region of Babylonia.], Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations [Or "king of Goyim." The Hebrew term גּוֹיִם (goyim) means "nations," but a number of modern translations merely transliterate the Hebrew (cf. NEB "Goyim"; NIV, NRSV "Goiim").] went to war [Heb "made war."] [Went to war. The conflict here reflects international warfare in the Early and Middle Bronze periods. The countries operated with overlords and vassals. Kings ruled over city states, or sometimes a number of city states (i.e., nations). Due to their treaties, when one went to war, those confederate with him joined him in battle. It appears here that it is Kedorlaomer's war, because the western city states have rebelled against him (meaning they did not send products as tribute to keep him from invading them).] 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). When it comes to making an actual material change to the text, the NET Bible® is pretty good about indicating this. Since most of these corrections will be clear in the more literal translations below and within the Hebrew exegesis itself, I will not continue to list every NET Bible® footnote.

NIV, ©2011                             Abram Rescues Lot

At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar [That is, Babylonia; also in verse 9], Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           When Amrafel was king of Shin'ar, Aryokh king of Elasar, K'dorla'omer king of 'Elam and Tid'al king of Goyim; they made war together against Bera king of S'dom and against Birsha king of 'Amora, Shin'av king of Admah, Shem'ever king of Tzvoyim, and the king of Bela (which is the same as Tzo'ar).

exeGeses companion Bible   ABRAM RESCUES LOT

And so be it,

in the days of Amraphel sovereign of Shinar,

Aryoch sovereign of Ellasar,

Kedorlaomer sovereign of Elam

and Tidal sovereign of goyim:

that these work war with Bera sovereign of Sedom

and with Birsha sovereign of Amorah,

Shinab sovereign of Admah,

and Shem Eber sovereign of Seboim,

and the sovereign of Bela, which is Soar:...

Judaica Press Complete T.    Now it came to pass in the days of Amraphel the king of Shinar, Arioch the king of Ellasar, Chedorloemer the king of Elam, and Tidal the king of Goiim. That they waged war with Bera the king of Sodom and with Birsha the king of Gomorrah, Shineab the king of Admah, and Shemeber the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

Kaplan Translation                 The War

It was around this time [(Rabenu Meyuchas). Literally, 'It was in the days of Amraphel,' or 'It was in the days when Amraphel....'] that Amraphel [Talmudic sources identify him with Nimrod (Genesis 10:8; cf. Targum Yonathan; Eruvin 53a; Rashi). Some identify him with the famed Hammurabi, who in ancient writings is referred to as Ammurapi. This may have occurred at the beginning of his reign, before he had built his famed empire, and hence, the leading king is seen as Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:4,5,9). However, since he later became famous, the age is identified with him.] king of Shinar [This is identified with Sumer. The Targum Yonathan renders it as Pontus (see note on Genesis 10:10). In some manuscripts, however, the reading is Bogtos, denoting Baghdad.], Ariokh [A king of Larsa by the name of Eriaku is found in ancient writings. It was later also a popular name (cf. Daniel 2:14).] king of Ellasar [This is the same as Larsa, a city just south of Erekh, and 100 miles south of Babylon. It was a major power center in ancient times. See note on Genesis 10:10.], Chedorlaomer [K'darla'omer in Hebrew. Some sources indicate that he was originally one of Amraphel's generals, who rebelled and established an independent kingdom (Sefer HaYashar). The name itself is a Hebraicized form of Kudur (servant of) and Lagamar, the name of an Elamite deity.] king of Elam [A city-state in the area of Shushan. See note on Genesis 10:22.], and Tidal [He can be identified with the Tudghala or Tudhaliya of cuniform texts, who was king of the Northern Kurdish or Hittite nations.] king of Goiim [Literally 'nations' or 'hordes' (see Targum). This might indicate that he was the king over a number of nations, or perhaps, a barbaric king. Others, interpret Goyim as a place name (Rashi). It may be identified with Gutium in Kurdistan. See Joshua 12:23.] waged war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinav king of Admah, Shemever king of Tzevoyim [See Genesis 10:19. Also see Deuteronomy 24:22, Hosea 11:8.], and the king of Bela (now Tzoar [See note on Genesis 13:10. The name was changed after the other cities were destroyed (Genesis 19:22). Bela was still used as a name (Genesis 36:32).]).

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And it came to pass in the yamim of Amraphel Melech Shinar (i.e., Babylon), Aryoch Melech Ellasar, Kedorlaomer Melech Elam, and Tidal Melech Goiim; That these made milchamah with Bera Melech Sodom, and with Birsha Melech Amora (Gomorrah), Shinav Melech Admah, and Shemever Melech Tzevoyim, and the Melech Bela, which is Tzoar.

The Scriptures 1998              And it came to be in the days of Amraphel sovereign of Shinʽar, Aryo sovereign of Ellasar, Keorlaʽomer sovereign of Ěylam, and Tiʽal sovereign of Goyim, that they fought against Bera sovereign of Seom, Birsha sovereign of Amorah, Shina sovereign of Amah, Shemʼĕer sovereign of Tseoyim, and the sovereign of Bela, that is Tsoʽar.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

The Amplified Bible                In the days of the kings Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim, They made war on the kings Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar. One of the notable proofs of the antiquity of the early sections of Genesis is that many of the original names of places about which they speak were so old that Moses, the writer, had to add an explanation in order to identify these ancient names so that the Israelites returning from Egypt might recognize them. Chapter 14 alone contains six such explanatory notes (Gen. 14:2, 3, 7, 8, 15, and 17).

Benner Mechanical Trans1    and~ he~ will~ Exist in~ Day~ s “Amraphel [Speaker of judgement]” King “Shinar [Country of two rivers]” “Aryokh [Tall]” King “Elasar [El is noble]” “Kedarla'omer [Attack for sheaves]” King “Elam [Ancient]” and~ “Tidal [Breaker of the yoke]” King “Goyim [Nations]” they~ did~ Do Battle At “Bera [With dysfunction]” King “Sedom [Secret]” and~ At “Birsha [With wickedness]” King “Ghamorah [Rebellion]” “Shinav [Teeth of father]” King “Admah [Red ground]” and~ “Shemever [Character of wing]” King “Tseviim [Gazzells]” and~ King “Bela [Swallow]” She “Tso'ar [Tiny]”.

Benner Mechanical Trans2    and it came to pass in the days of “Amraphel [Speaker of judgement]” king of “Shinar [Country of two rivers]”, “Aryokh [Tall]” king of “Elasar [El is noble]”, “Kedarla'omer [Attack for sheaves]” king of “Elam [Ancient]” and “Tidal [Breaker of the yoke]” king of “Goyim [Nations]”, they did battle with “Bera [With dysfunction]” king of “Sedom [Secret]” and with “Birsha [With wickedness]” king of “Ghamorah [Rebellion]”, “Shinav [Teeth of father]” king of “Admah [Red ground]” and “Shemever [Character of wing]” king of “Tseviim [Gazzells]” and the king of “Bela [Swallow]”, she is “Tso'ar [Tiny]”,...

Concordant Literal Version    And coming is it in the days of the reign of Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king of Ellasar, and Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of nations, that they make war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, and Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (It is now Zoar.

Context Group Version          And it happened in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, that they 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 ( the same is Zoar ).

English Standard V. – UK       Abram Rescues Lot

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

The Geneva Bible                  And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar [That is, of Babylon: by kings here, meaning, them that were governors of cities. ], Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations [Of a people gathered from various countries.]; ... This is v. 1 only.

New King James Version       Lot's Captivity and Rescue

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 [Hebrew goyim], that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

Syndein/Thieme                     Abram's 4 Great Victories and meet 'Melchizedek'

{See also Hebrews Chapter 7}

{Confederation of 4 Armies Led by Chedorlaomer}

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king {melek} of Shinar {the original Babylon/Chaldea} Arioch king of Ellasar {other side of Shinar} Chedorlaomer king of Elam {mountainous area of Southern Persia} and Tidal, king of nations {country north of Jerusalem - known as Galilee}. {Note: These men combine and make a formidable force - with Chedorlaomer as the leader.}

{War in the Jordan Valley - The Land that Lot Chose for Himself}

{4 Armies Take on These 5 Armies}

These {4 armies} manufactured {'asah - out of their mental attitude sins} 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.

Third Millennium Bible            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, 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.

Young's Literal Translation     In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim waged war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, as well as the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

The gist of this verse:          This is an account of 5 kings of the east going to war with 4 kings in the west.

Translation: And it was in the days of Amraphel, the king of Shinar;...

These first two verses make up a title for this chapter or a summary of what is to come, giving us an overview. Essentially, we find out who the participants are and who is going to war against whom.

Shinar is an early name for the Babylon area. We have come across this name twice already in our study of Genesis. You may recall Nimrod, the grandson of Ham, who was a great hunter and who established a great kingdom in the cities of Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, which were in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:6–10). This would make Shinar an early name for Babylonia. The descendants of Noah eventually moved from the mountains near the eastern border of Modern Turkey south-southeast until they were overlooking the very lush plain of Shinar (modern-day Iraq). As waters continued to recede after the flood, they moved down into these lowlands (Genesis 11:2).

It is thought by some that Amraphel is the famous Hammurabi, although this is not universally accepted. We are similar in time period (Hammurabi reigned in approximately 2100 b.c.; yet others place him in the 1700's or the 1600's), but the names are too different without a reasonable explanation as to why. When comparing a Greek and a Hebrew name, is is likely that an h might get left out because the Greek does not have an h (except for a rough breathing before some words) and the Hebrew has, more or less, two h's. No one is certain who Arioch is, but there are several theories as to his identity and his realm.

We do not know any of these kings for certain, although the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English lexicon (and other sources) suggest that Amraphel could be Hammurabi. I haven’t a clue as to how they came up with this identity, as there were probably many city states at that time.

Translation: ...Arioch, the king of Eliasar;...

Ellasar is probably the name of the Chaldean Larsa, which is located just a little northwest from Ur, up along the Euphrates River. In other words, this invading army is coming from the area where Abram originally lived.

Translation: ...Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam...

Chedorlaomer has a name which is clearly Elamish and appropriate to that era. He's been identified with one king of Elam (Kutir-nahhunti I), but his name is too different and the chronology is off.

Elam is the area just east of Ur, and it would have been the land that Noah’s descendants first came down to from the mountains. Elam was a son of Shem, after whom this land is probably named (Genesis 10:22).

Translation: ...and Tidal, the king of Goiim...

Tidal's name is likely identical to the Hittite name Tudhalia (the Hebrew letter ayin (a) is often identified with an Asiatic or an Akkadian h). However, he is not necessarily one of the five Hittite kings uncovered bearing that name. He is said to be the king of gôwyîm (גּוֹיִם) [pronounced goh-YIHM], which many of us recognize. This word means Gentiles, [Gentile] nations, people, peoples, nations. Strong’s #1471 BDB #156. It is possible that this is a particular nation (I doubt that it is another federation of nations as has been suggested by some) or an unnamed nation. Words do change in their usage and this word could have begun as the name of a particular nation and then later used to refer to gentile nations in general. You see, we do not yet have the corresponding term Hebrew, although it does occur in this chapter for the first time (v. 13). Since we do not yet have the distinct contrast in the mind of Abram, it would be reasonable for this term to proceed from referring to a particular nation and later be generalized to refer to any gentile nation. You cannot have goyim until you first have Hebrews and Abram is not yet a Hebrew in the technical sense until he is circumcised and thereby set apart to God. However, he will be called a Hebrew in this chapter.

You probably recognize the word Goiim, which is usually translated nations or Gentiles (the -im ending is plural in the Hebrew). We do not know if this refers to a specific place here or whether Tidal is king over a small group of city-states. Prior to this, goiim has already been translated nations in Genesis 10:5, 20, 31–32; in such a way that, it clearly does not refer to a specific geographical area. However, that does not preclude this word from referring to a particular area in the east.

This first group of kings were a tough, war-like people. They would go out, conquer areas, and then expect the people that they conquered to pay them tribute. This gave them some protection from these warriors. They would not come in a raze a village (except for practice), because a village could produce much more for them over the long wrong by exacting tribute from them.

Map of the 4 Kings

This map was taken from a slide show from www.WellsBibleStudy.com which appears to be a fairly straightforward study of several incidents in the Bible. This particular slide is from his slide show page, which slides can be opened with PowerPoint or Presentations.

We will later find out that it takes a year for these kings to get it all together. However, given how spread out they are, it makes sense that this excursion took some time to plan out.

Gen 14:1 In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,...

V. 1 essentially stops us in mid sentence, but we have enough information to take us into a few paragraphs here. First of all, this portion of Scripture was often ridiculed because liberal critics pointed out that these kings did not exist in history and that this is all fanciful stuff cooked up out of Abram's imagination to make him look important. The problem is that, at one time, these men did not appear in secular history. Man is very negative toward God's Word. Even though we have an historical portrait which bears all the earmarks of authenticity, of unbiased history, man has rejected the historical portions of the Bible whenever there is no corroborating evidence in the secular realm. Man is predisposed to reject God's Word no matter what. Now, you find a scrap of papyri or a inscription in a wall or a clay tablet and man will jump at that as authentic and accurate (I am being a bit too harsh; archeologists by and large recognize that the history recorded by and for some rulers is distorted a great deal in favor of the ruler involved). Still, they will reject God's Word precisely because it is God's Word.

The Bible has an objectivity when it comes to its central characters unparalleled in secular history. The historical records of secular kings tell us that they were the strongest, fiercest warriors in the world; however, our writers of Scripture portray themselves sometimes as faithful and strong, but other times as mistaken, sinful, weak and willful. Furthermore, this is a consistent trait of Scripture, particularly with the great men of history, like Abram, Moses, David and (especially) Solomon. My point here is that unregenerate man, despite the objectivity of Scripture, is predisposed to reject God's Word because it is God's Word. Wherever God's Word does not have corroborating evidence from unregenerate historians, then the events recorded are though to be fanciful or fables.

The prolific ancient historian Will Durant, however, has an objective point-of-view here: The discoveries here summarized have restored considerable credit to those chapters of Genesis that record the early traditions of the Jews. In its outlines, and barring supernatural incidents, the story of the Jews as unfolded in the Old Testament has stood the test of criticism and archeology; every year adds corroboration from documents, monuments, or excavations...We must accept the Biblical account provisionally until it is disproved.

However, over the past century, information about kings and kingdoms of this era have been retrieved from secular history, making this account much more reasonable than originally thought by the critics.

In any case, this is not some coalition of desert bandits who are out to plunder; these are invading kings from the east who have come to plunder the people of Canaan. They intend to put down this rebellion, to take their possessions, and to take many of their people as slaves.

This was not the first time that these groups had contact. Apparently, Chedorlaomer had an arrangement with these peoples of Canaan where they paid him tribute, and they were rebelling against that arrangement. We do not know how often this sort of thing occurred. We only know that, this is an invading army and they came from the general area where Abram was raised up, the area that God told Abram to leave. We will come to find out that the people whom they attacked was a very degenerate people.

Genesis 14:1 And it was in the days of Amraphel, the king of Shinar; Arioch, the king of Eliasar; Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam and Tidal, the king of Goiim... (Kukis mostly literal translation)

This may have been the first significant war of mankind, which is why it is found here.

There is one more thing which we need to keep in mind: the Middle East then was not this vast, almost uninhabitable desert area that we know today. It was lush and green, and the area around the Euphrates is called the Fertile Crescent (a name given to this area by James Henry Breasted in 1906). Over several millennia, this area has gone from a lush, prosperous area, to what we have today, which metamorphous represents God’s judgment on the people who live in these lands.

As you will see in the map which follows, there is quite a bit of distance between the centers of these two regions. They are approximately 500 miles apart. If we take what is later found in the Bible as the way of doing things, then the kings of the east probably had outposts around Sodom and Gomorrah where a tax would be collected and then shipped off to the east. When a tax is not received in the 13^th year, an army was sent to deal with it.

The first set of kings (v. 1) come from the Babylonian area (which is to the east). The second kings are from the Canaan area (v. 2), many from around the Dead Sea area.

The World of the Old Testament

Map is from: http://jesusreigns.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/the-world-of-the-old-testament.jpg

This is essentially the first world war (or, at least the first one recorded in the Bible).

Translation: ...—they made war with Bera, the king of Sodom;...

Bera is the only king that will have a personal part to play in this narrative, at the end of this chapter.

Translation: ...and Birsha, the king of Gomorrah;...

The name Birsha may mean son of wickedness. What I believe happened with many names is, a person’s name was remembered in connection with his reputation. So that, there might be a merging of that person’s name with his reputation in the minds of the people of that era, so Birsha would be remembered as son of wickedness, even though that might not have been his exact name.

Sodom and Gomorrah are cities along the southern end of the Salt Sea (which would not have been as salty at this time as it today). It is definitely possible that, at one time, a river went from the Salt Sea into the Red Sea. However, at this time, it appears that these kings in v. 2 lived in the very green valley formed from that river bed.

Translation:...[and] Shinab, the king of Admah;...

Admah means red earth and it would have been a city in the Siddim valley close to Sodom and Gomorrah (Deut. 29:23). He is only mentioned here by name.

Translation: ...and Shemeber, the king of Zeboiim,...

Admah, Sodom, Gomorrah and Zeboiim are all linked as cities close together, settled by Canaanites, as far back as Genesis 10:19. Shemeber is only mentioned by name in this passage.

Translation: ...and the king of Bela (that (is) Zoar).

The Bible mentions Zoar in several places; meaning that Bela later gave way to be called Zoar during the time that this portion of the Word of God was copied by Moses. Whereas, it is mentioned in Genesis 14:2, 8 19:22, 23, 30 Deut. 34:3 Isaiah 15:5 Jer. 48:34, none of these references give us a geographical fix on Zoar. Various scholars put it south of the Salt Sea (along with Sodom and Gomorrah), but Deut. 34:3 seems to place this in the valley of Jericho on the North end of the Dead Sea (i.e., the Salt Sea). Otherwise, Moses could ot have seen it from Mt. Nebo (Pisgah). Furthermore, as ZPEB points out, those cities, if they were south of the Dead Sea, would have been much more remote and inaccessible, making them unlikely targets. It is not out of the question that there were two Zoar's, except that Moses identifies this city Bela with Zoar, so he would not have done this if there was another Zoar elsewhere.

Where we read things like that is, Zoar, that is called a gloss. It is simply taking the name of a place in one era and identifying it with the same place under a new name in a later era, so that the reader knows where the area is. So, a copyist or a writer at a later date (like Moses), adds in this information. It is similar to me identifying the area where the first kings come from—ancient Babylon—as modern-day Iraq. I also mentioned that Mount Ararat is where Noah’s ark landed, and that it was probably along the eastern border of modern Turkey. Making such references is similar to a gloss in Scripture, which does not alter anything in the Old Testament.

The second group is an alliance of kings who all live in the Sodom area. Now, they are going through this pain because they are a very degenerate people, alluded to back in Genesis 13:13. Because of this great degeneracy, these people will go through disciplinary steps from God.

In human history, there are laws designed for the human race, which are known as the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). These laws protect a nation and help that nation prosper. Much of the Old Testament Law is about such laws, many of which are codified in the Law of Moses. When nations reject these laws (such as, reject the notion of family, which our nation is beginning to do), national discipline follows.

Genesis 14:2 ...—they made war with Bera, the king of Sodom; and Birsha, the king of Gomorrah; [and] Shinab, the king of Admah; and Shemeber, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that (is) Zoar). (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 14:1–2 And it was in the days of Amraphel, the king of Shinar; Arioch, the king of Eliasar; Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam and Tidal, the king of Goiim—they made war with Bera, the king of Sodom; and Birsha, the king of Gomorrah; [and] Shinab, the king of Admah; and Shemeber, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that (is) Zoar). (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 14:1–2 And it was in the days of Amraphel, the king of Shinar; that Arioch, the king of Eliasar; Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam and Tidal, the king of Goiim—made war with Bera, the king of Sodom; and Birsha, the king of Gomorrah; [and] Shinab, the king of Admah; and Shemeber, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (which is Zoar). (Kukis paraphrase)

The kings mentioned in v. 2 are unknown to us. If you can imagine achieving one of the highest offices or places of authority and yet remain unknown to history; or, at best, a small footnote in history. These kings, were it not for the Bible, would be entirely unknown to us. Nobody remembers Shemember.

——————————

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                All these were joined in the vale of the gardens (paredesaia), the place that produced the streamlets of waters that empty themselves into the sea of salt.

Latin Vulgate                          All these came together into the woodland vale, which now is the salt sea.

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        These joined together in a Valley of Siddim, that [is] a sea of salt.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    All of these joined together in the valley of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea.

Septuagint (Greek)                All these met with one accord at the Salt Valley; this is now the Salt Sea.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           These latter kings formed an alliance in the Siddim Valley (that is, the Dead Sea [Or Salt Sea]).

Contemporary English V.       King Chedorlaomer and his allies had ruled these last five kings for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year the kings rebelled and came together in Siddim Valley, which is now covered by the southern part of the Dead Sea.

Easy English                          All these 5 kings came together in the valley called Siddim, which is near the Salt Sea.

The Message                         This second group of kings, the attacked, came together at the Valley of Siddim, that is, the Salt Sea.

New Berkeley Version           All these forces met in the Siddim valley which is now the Salt Sea.

New Century Version             These kings who were attacked united their armies in the Valley of Siddim (now the Dead Sea).

New Living Translation           This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea [Hebrew Salt Sea.]).

The Voice                               All of these joined forces in the valley of Siddim (near the area now known as the Dead Sea [Literally, Salt Sea]).

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          So, they all agreed to meet together at the Salt Valley (which is now the Dead Sea).

God’s Word™                         The five kings joined forces and met in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea).

New Advent (Knox) Bible       All these joined their forces in the Valley of the Forests, where the Salt Sea is now;...

NIRV                                      Those five kings all gathered their armies together in the Valley of Siddim. It was the valley of the Dead Sea.

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

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      All these aligned in the vale of the Dead-Sea (it's the Salt Sea).

The Expanded Bible              These kings who were attacked united their armies in the Valley of Siddim (·now [^Lthat is] the ·Dead [^LSalt] Sea).

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 All these were defeated in the Valley of Siddim (now known as the Salt Sea).

NET Bible®                             These last five kings [Heb "all these," referring only to the last five kings named. The referent has been specified as "these last five kings" in the translation for clarity.] joined forces [The Hebrew verb used here means "to join together; to unite; to be allied." It stresses close associations, especially of friendships, marriages, or treaties.] in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea) [The Salt Sea is the older name for the Dead Sea.].

NIV, ©2011                             All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea Valley).

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

JPS (Tanakh—1985)               ...all the latter joined forces at the Valley of Siddim, now the Dead Sea [Heb., the Salt Sea].

Kaplan Translation                 All of these had come together [That is, the kings of Sodom and its sattelites had made a treaty to serve Chedorlaomer, and this treaty was made in Siddim Valley (Rashi). Others say that the five cities of the plain had made a mutual defense pact in this valley. Another possible explanation is that they gathered for war in Siddim Valley (see Genesis 14:8).] in Siddim Valley (now the Dead Sea). Siddim Valley: After the destruction, this area was submerged to become the Dead Sea. The name Siddim is from the root sadad (cf. Isaiah 28:24, Hosea 10:11), which is also the root of the word sadeh, a field (Radak). Hence, Onkelos translates it, 'Field Valley,' or 'Valley of Fields.' Targum Yonathan renders it, 'Orchard Valley,' but, since the word for orchard is pardes, it can also be rendered 'Paradise Valley' (see Bereshith Rabbah 42).

Orthodox Jewish Bible           All these were joined together in the Valley of Siddim which is the Yam HaMelach (i.e., Dead Sea).

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

The Amplified Bible                The latter kings joined together [as allies] in the Valley of Siddim, which is [now] the [Dead] Sea of Salt.

Benner Mechanical Trans1    All These they~ did~ Couple To Valley the~ “Sidim [Fields]” He Sea the~ Salt.

Benner Mechanical Trans2    All of these coupled to the valley of the “Sidim [Fields]”, he is the sea of the salt,...

Concordant Literal Version    All these are joined at the vale of the salt fields. (It is now the salt sea.)

Emphasized Bible                  All these, joined together in the valley of the open fields, the same, is the Salt Sea.

English Standard Version      And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

The Geneva Bible                  All these were joined together [Ambition is the chief cause of wars among princes. ] in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea [Called also the dead sea, or the lake Asphaltite, near Sodom and Gomorrah. ].

NASB                                     All these came as allies [Lit joined together] to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

Syndein/Thieme                     {Battle of the Vale of Siddim}

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim (which is the salt sea {today the Dead Sea}).

Young's Updated LT              All these have been joined together unto the valley of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea.

The gist of this verse:          These two sets of armies would meet in the Valley of Siddim, which is the Valley of the Salt Sea.

Translation: These [the latter set of kings] joined forces in the valley of Siddim,...

These refers back to the second group of kings. They are all located near one another in the Valley of Siddim.

Translation: ...which [is] the Salt Sea.

This valley is, according to this gloss, not just near the Salt Sea, but it is the Salt Sea. So, with this name, the implication is, even this far back, this was a salty sea (and it would be much more so today). Someone familiar with this area, many years later, after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, adds these few words to indicate that the area being discussed is now a part of the Salt Sea.

Those in the west are rebelling against those over them from the east. Apparently, 13 years ago, kings from the east came over into Canaan and conquered this set of cities. One approach when a place is conquered is, you leave the people there, and they pay a tribute (tax) to the conquering nation (s). It was not unusual for peoples in the east to come into the land of Canaan and conquer portions of it. In fact, this will happen on several occasions in the Bible.

Apparently, what had happened is the kings of the east made war with the Pentapolis [=5 city] coalition and subdued them, possibly individually (made war in v. 2 is in the perfect tense), and subjected them. They were in subjection because of the four kings of the east, specifically to Chedorlaomer. He was perhaps the king who initiated the original attack on the famous Pentapolis. The other kings no doubt received what was due them as spoils from war.

Genesis 14:3 These [the latter set of kings] joined forces in the valley of Siddim, which [is] the Salt Sea. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 14:3 This latter set of kings formed an alliance in the Valley of Siddim, which is near the Salt Sea. (Kukis paraphrase)

Vv. 1–3 give us the background for this chapter: And it was in the days of Amraphel, the king of Shinar; Arioch, the king of Eliasar; Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam and Tidal, the king of Goiim—they made war with Bera, the king of Sodom; and Birsha, the king of Gomorrah; [and] Shinab, the king of Admah; and Shemeber, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that (is) Zoar). These [the latter set of kings] joined forces in the valley of Siddim, which [is near] the Salt Sea. What follows will be the details of what took place.

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War of the Kings—Prelude

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                Twelve years they had served Kedarlaomer; and in the thirteenth year they had rebelled.

Latin Vulgate                          For they had served Chodorlahomor twelve years, and in the thirteenth year they revolted from him.

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        Two-teen a year they had served Chedorlaomer; and three-teen a year they rebelled.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    Twelve years they served Cardlaamar, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Septuagint (Greek)                Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and the thirteenth year they revolted.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Easy English                          They had served Chedorlaomer for 12 years. But in the 13th year they started to oppose his authority.

Easy-to-Read Version            These kings had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the 13th year they all rebelled against him.

New Century Version             They had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year, they all turned against him.

New Life Bible                        They had been ruled by Chedorlaomer for twelve years. But in the thirteenth year they went against him.

New Living Translation           For twelve years they had been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.

The Voice                               You see, the five latter kings had been conquered by Chedorlaomer and so they had served him for 12 years; but in the 13th year, they rebelled against him.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          They had been vassals to ChodolLogomor for some twelve years, but in the thirteenth year, they revolted.

Christian Community Bible     Twelve years they had been dominated by Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       ...they had been tributary to Chodorlahomor for twelve years, and in the following year they had revolted from him.

NIRV                                      For 12 years they had been under the rule of Kedorlaomer. But in the 13th year they opposed him.

New Jerusalem Bible             For twelve years they had been under the yoke of Chedor-Laomer, but in the thirteenth year they revolted.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      For twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, but they rebelled in year thirteen.

Bible in Basic English             For twelve years they were under the rule of Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they put off his control.

The Expanded Bible              They had served Kedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year, they all ·turned [rebelled] against him.

NET Bible®                             For twelve years [The sentence simply begins with "twelve years"; it serves as an adverbial accusative giving the duration of their bondage] they had served Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year [This is another adverbial accusative of time.] they rebelled [The story serves as a foreshadowing of the plight of the kingdom of Israel later. Eastern powers came and forced the western kingdoms into submission. Each year, then, they would send tribute east - to keep them away. Here, in the thirteenth year, they refused to send the tribute (just as later Hezekiah rebelled against Assyria). And so in the fourteenth year the eastern powers came to put them down again. This account from Abram's life taught future generations that God can give victory over such threats - that people did not have to live in servitude to tyrants from the east.].

NIV, ©2011                             For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Kaplan Translation                 They [That is, the five cities of the plain] had served Chedorlaomer for twelve years, but in the thirteenth year [According to others, 'then for 13 years they rebelled' (Bereshith Rabbah 42). According to some, the servitude began immediately after the Tower of Babel (Seder Olam Rabbah 1; cf. Shabbath 11a, Rashi ad loc. s.v. Esrim).] they rebelled.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           Twelve shanah they served Kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Benner Mechanical Trans1    Two Ten Year they~ did~ Serve At “Kedarla'omer [Attack for sheaves]” and~ Three Ten Year they~ did~ Rebel.

Benner Mechanical Trans2    ...twelve years they served “Kedarla'omer [Attack for sheaves]” and the thirteenth year they rebelled,...

Concordant Literal Version    Twelve years they serve Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they revolt.

New RSV                               For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Syndein/Thieme                     {Cause of the Battle - Retrospective Explanation}

Twelve years they served {were slaves in they paid tribute for protection} Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Young's Literal Translation     Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and the thirteenth year they rebelled.

The gist of this verse:          The king of Sodom (and possibly the other kings) was subject to Chedorlaomer for 12 years; they rebelled against him in the 13^th year.

Translation: [The peoples of the Valley of Siddim] served Chedorlaomer [for] 12 years,...

For twelve years, these peoples of the Siddim valley were willing to pay tribute to Chedorlaomer. He may have set up a tax office there (often called a garrison) and he may have sent tax collectors to them. For, for 12 years, they continued paying what was asked of them.

Translation: ...and [in] the thirteenth year, they rebelled [against him].

However, this got to a point where they were no longer willing to pay, so they rebelled against Chedarlaomer in the 13^th year. Exactly what they did is not told to us—perhaps they burned down the garrison and killed those in the garrison, or perhaps, if Chedarlaomer used tax collectors, they either embarrassed or killed the tax collectors.

Gen 14:4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Genesis 14:4 [The peoples of the Valley of Siddim] served Chedorlaomer [for] 12 years, and [in] the thirteenth year, they rebelled [against him]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Genesis 14:4 The people of the Valley of Siddim served Chedorlaomer for 12 years, but in the 13^th year, they rebelled against him. (Kukis paraphrase)

What was common in that era is one national entity would dominate another, and the conquered peoples would have to pay their conquerors tribute. Serving them meant working in their own land but paying taxes to the conquering country. Many times, a Suzerain-Vassal treaty would be established, which specified the responsibilities of both parties. The Suzerain (ruler from a different country) would provide these people with some modicum of protection (i.e., they would become a protectorate), furthermore, he would not invade them. In return, the vassals would pay taxes to the sovereign and swear allegiance to him. The suzerain would establish this treaty and the vassals would agree to it (otherwise, they would be destroyed by the suzerain).

Such a treaty (or covenant) could be established by means of an invasion; but sometimes these problems could be worked out before an invasion. Psychological warfare was often employed, and if one people were conquered in their minds, that would be enough to establish a suzerain-vassal treaty.

The people living in the land of Canaan had been conquered by Chedorlaomer, a great king from the east. They paid him tribute for 12 years and then they rebelled against him in the 13^th year. We may reasonably assume that he sent his tax collectors to collect tribute from them in that 13^th year, and they killed these tax collectors. Or, Chedorlaomer established an outpost in the Valley of Siddim (possibly several outposts), and, on the 13^th year, these soldier-tax collectors were beaten down.

Application: Due to the teaching that we have received in school, we are brought up to think that a people’s revolution is a good thing; and that a facebook revolution is a great thing. Men like Gandhi are revered for standing up to the British Empire. However, when a nation does not control itself, then God must impose humility upon that nation, and that is what was happening in Sodom and Gomorrah. These nations had reached levels of great lasciviousness (which will become more apparent in Genesis 19). In order to preserve a people, God often imposes authority over them, if they do not have the ability to control themselves. We have this occurring in our nation today. We have become and arrogant and entitled people; so each successive government applies more and more controls. Our freedom is based upon self-regulation and an inherent morality; barring that, we go the way of Sodom. If you are reading this, you have probably grown up in the great period of prosperity for the United States. The idea that we could end up on some kind of ash heap of nations seems out of the question. However, the great personal immorality of the people of our nation may take us into that direction. All of the great nations fall—Spain was a world class power at one time; Great Britain virtually ruled the world. But these nations fell, not necessarily into complete ruin, but to a place of power far, far below what they once were.

That Sodom is under the thumb of another nation is a good thing; this is a warning to them from God. If they continue to go down the path of their degenerate ways, then greater discipline will follow. This is all found in Genesis 19. There is no reason to think that our nation is immune to this.

This is what we have studied so far:

Genesis 14:1–4 At that time four kings-King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim- went to war against five kings-King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). The five kings joined forces and met in the valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). For 12 years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

At that time is literally and so it is in days of... While God is showing all of the land to Abram, there is this great human drama playing out around the Dead Sea, which is where Lot, Abram’s nephew, eventually moved.

A portion of this chapter is going to be a war between two alliances—4 kings who come out of the east and 5 kings who form as coalition in the west. Their kingdoms were far apart—about 500 miles from one another—yet for 12 years, King Chedorlaomer exerted control over these 5 city-states which are situated near the Salt Sea. The exact location of these 5 cities is disputed, but my guess is, there was a river which drained the water of the Salt Sea into the Red Sea, and that these cities were gathered along this river, in what was called the Valley of Siddim.

In the ancient world, the key to any word is its consonants. You will note the consonantal equivalence of Siddim and Sodom (the Hebrew does not double up the consonant as we do in the English, but it puts a dot in the middle of the consonant, to indicate that it both ends one syllable and begins the next syllable). Sodom and Siddim could be equivalent names or one could have arisen from the other. Even today, there is a salt mountain located at the southwest corner of the Dead Sea called Jebel Usdum. Jebel means mountain; and Usdum is consonantally equivalent to Sodom and Siddim.

As the Hebrew style is, we get the overall view first, and then this will be followed by details.

Then we read something which is quite unexpected:

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Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Targum of Onkelos                And in the fourteenth year came Kedarlaomer and the kings who were with him, and smote the Giants (gibboraia) which were in Ashtaroth-Karniam, and the Strong who were in Hametha, and the Terrible who were in the plain of Kiriathaim, and the Choraee (dwellers in caverns) who were in the high mountains of Begala, unto the valley of Pharan, which was nigh upon the edge of the desert.

Jerusalem targum                  All these were joined in the valley of the gardens. And they slew the giants who were in Ashtaroth-Karnaim, the famed who were among them, and the formidable who inhabited the city which they had built, and the cavern people who dwelt in the mountain of Gebala, unto the valley of vision which is nigh upon the desert.

Latin Vulgate                          And in the fourteenth year came Chodorlahomor, and the kings that were with him: and they smote the Raphaim in Astarothcarnaim, and the Zuzim with them, and the Emim in Save of Cariathaim. And the Chorreans in the mountains of Seir, even to the plains of Pharan, which is in the wilderness.

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And in a four-teen year came Chedorlaomer and the kings who [are] with him. And so they strike Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emin in Shavey-Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mountain Seir, as far as El-Paran, which is against the wilderness.

Peshitta (Syriac)                    And in the fourteenth year came Cardlaamar, and the kings that were with him, and smote the mighty men who were in Ashteroth Karnaim and the valiant men who were in the city, and the Emins in Shaveh Koriathaim, And the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as the oak of Paran, which is in the wilderness.

Septuagint (Greek)                And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings with him, and they cut to pieces the giants in Astaroth, and Karnaim, and strong nations with them, and the Emim in the city Shaveh Kiriathaim. And the Horites in the mountains of Seir, to the terebinth tree of El Paran, which is in the desert.

Significant differences: 

Thought-for-thought translations; paraphrases:

Common English Bible           In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings of his alliance came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in the mountains of Seir as far as El-paran near the desert.

Easy English                          In the 14th year, Chedorlaomer came. He was with those kings that were helping him. Together, they defeated the people called Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim, and the people called Zuzim in Ham. Those 4 kings also defeated the people called Emim in Shaveh-Kiriathaim. And they defeated the people called Horites in the mountains called Seir, as far as El-Paran. That is at the edge of the desert.

Easy-to-Read Version            So in the 14th year, King Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came to fight against them. Kedorlaomer and the kings with him defeated the Rephaim people in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also defeated the Zuzim people in Ham. They defeated the Emim people in Shaveh Kiriathaim. And they defeated the Horite people who lived in the area from the hill country of Seir [Or, "Edom."] to El Paran [Probably the town Elath, at the southern tip of Israel near the Red Sea.]. (El Paran is near the desert.).

Good News Bible (TEV)         In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allies came with their armies and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in the plain of Kiriathaim, and the Horites in the mountains of Edom, pursuing them as far as Elparan on the edge of the desert.

The Message                         In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him set out and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El Paran on the far edge of the desert.

New Berkeley Version           For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer; in the thirteenth year they revolted and in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer approached with the allied kings. They conquered the Rephaim [The Rephaim were of gigantic statures (Deut. 2:11, 20 Joshua 17:17 2Sam 21:16). The Zuzim or Zamzuzum were their kin (Deut. 2:20); so the Emim were tall as the Anakim (Deut. 2:9, 11). The Horites (Genesis 36:20) were destroyed by the Edomites (Deut. 2:12, 22). They carved rooms out of sheer rocks, stories above one another.] at Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim in the Kiriathaim plane, and the Horites in their Seir mountain range as far as El-Paran, near the desert. V. 4 is included for context.

New Century Version             Then in the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim. They also defeated the Horites in the mountains of Edom to El Paran (near the desert).

New Life Bible                        Then in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and won a war against the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shavehkiriathaim, and the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as El-paran near the place where no people live.

New Living Translation           One year later Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived and defeated the Rephaites at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites at Ham, the Emites at Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites at Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness.

The Voice                               In the 14th year, Chedorlaomer and the three kings who were allied with him squashed rebellions of the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir all the way to El-paran, which lies on the edge of the wilderness.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          So in the fourteenth year, ChodolLogomor and his allies attacked, cutting to pieces the giants in AstarOth and Carnain, along with the strong nations that were their allies (the OmMeans in the city of Saue and the ChorRheans in the mountains of Seir), all the way to the turpentine trees of Pharan (in the desert).

Christian Community Bible     In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the king who were his allies, came and fought and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emin in Shaveh-kiriathaim and the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as Elparan which is near the desert.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       So, in this fourteenth year, Chodorlahomor and the kings allied with him came out to battle. They had defeated the Raphaim, in Astaroth-Carnaim, and the Zuzim in their company [`In their company'; the Hebrew text makes this a proper name, `in Cham', a place not elsewhere mentioned.]; the Emim, too, in Save-Cariathaim, and the Horrites in the hills of Seir, right up to the plains of Pharan, out in the desert.

New American Bible (R.E.)    In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El-paran, close by the wilderness. Dt 2:12.

NIRV                                      In the 14th year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him went to war. They won the battle against the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also won the battle against the Zuzites in Ham and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim. They did the same thing to the Horites in the hill country of Seir. They marched all the way to El Paran near the desert.

New Jerusalem Bible             In the fourteenth year Chedor-Laomer arrived and the kings who had allied themselves with him. They defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth-Carnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim in the Plain of Kiriathaim, the Horites in the mountainous district of Seir near El-Paran, which is on the edge of the desert.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ancient Roots Translinear      In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came and smote the giants in Ashtaroth and Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, reckoned the Emims in Kiriathaim, the Hurrians in the Seir mountains, and unto the arch in the Central-Sinai wilderness.

Bible in Basic English             And in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were on his side, overcame the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, And the Horites in their mountain Seir, driving them as far as El-paran, which is near the waste land.

The Expanded Bible              Then in the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings with him came and ·defeated [subdued] the ·Rephaites [or Rephaim; ^Can especially warlike tribe in Canaan] in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim [^Cthe Zuzites and Emites were likely related to the Rephaites; Deut. 2:10-11]. 6 They also defeated the Horites in the mountains of ·Edom [^LSeir; ^Ca region outside of Palestine on the southeastern coast of the Dead Sea] to El Paran (near the ·desert [wilderness]).

Ferar-Fenton Bible                 Accordingly, in the fourteen year, Kedarlaomer and his allied kings defeated the Refaim at Ashteroth’s Horn, and the Zuzim at the Devil’s Horns [Hebrew, “Shava Qirnim], and the Horites in the mountains of Seir, as far as the pastures which adjoin the desert.

NET Bible®                             In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who were his allies came and defeated [The Hebrew verb נָכָה (nakhah) means “to attack, to strike, to smite.” In this context it appears that the strike was successful, and so a translation of “defeated” is preferable] the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is near the desert [The line of attack ran down the eastern side of the Jordan Valley into the desert, and then turned and came up the valley to the cities of the plain.].

NIV, ©2011                             In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           In the fourteenth year K'dorla'omer and the kings with him came and defeated the Refa'im in 'Asht'rot-Karnayim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Eimim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim and the Hori at Se'ir, their mountain, all the way to Eil-Pa'ran by the desert.

exeGeses companion Bible   ...and in the fourteenth year

Kedorlaomer and the sovereigns with him

come and smite the Rephaim in Ashteroth Qarnaim

and the Zuziym in Ham

and the Emim in Shaveh Qiryathayim

and the Horiy in their mount Seir

unto El Paran by the wilderness.

Judaica Press Complete T.    And in the fourteenth year, Chedorloemer came, and the kings who were with him, and they smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh kiriathaim. And the Horites in their mountain Seir, until the plain of Paran, which is alongside the desert.

Kaplan Translation                 In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and his allied kings came. They defeated [Literally, 'struck.' It can also mean 'killed,' 'attacked,' or 'conquered.'] the Rephaim [The Targum has 'mighty ones,' or 'giants,' cf. Deuteronomy 2:11, 2:21. Their land was promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:20), and part of it was given to Lot's descendants (Deuteronomy 2:20). Og, a giant reputed to be over ten feet tall, was reputed to be one of the survivors of the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 3:11; Joshua 12:4, 13:12). Their land was later called Bashan, to the east of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 3:13). They were associated with the Perizites (Joshua 17:15, see Genesis 15:20). Some sources identify them with the Hivites (Bereshith Rabbah 44).] in Ashteroth Karnaim [Ancient twin cities, some 22 miles east of the Sea of Galilee (Kinereth Sea), on what is now the Golan Heights. Actually Karnayim was a little over two miles northeast of Ashteroth. Later, Og lived near there (Joshua 9:10, 12:4, 13:12) in Edrei (Deuteronomy 1:4. Cf. Rashi on Deuteronomy 1:4). Ashteroth was also the name of a Sidonite deity (cf. 1 Kings 11:5 etc.). Karnayim literally means 'twin horns' (Radak).], the Zuzim [These are identical with the Zumzumim of Deuteronomy 2:20 (Rashi). Zumzumim was the name given to this race of giants by the Amonites (Deuteronomy 2:20). The Targum renders it takifin, literally 'the powerful ones.'] in Ham [A city 14 miles to the east of the Jordan River, and 25 miles southwest of Ashteroth Karnayim. We thus see that the attackers were coming from the north and heading south. Some sources, however, render this verse, 'the Zuzim among them' (Bereshith Rabbah 42). This follows from Deuteronomy 2:20, where the Zuzim are identified with the Raphaim.], the Emim [Literally, 'fearsome ones' (Targum), a name given to the Rephaim (giants) by the Moabites (Deuteronomy 2:11). They lived in what was later Moabite territory (see note on Genesis 14:5, 'Shaveh Kiryathaim' ).] in Shaveh Kiryathaim [An ancient city, 8 miles east of the Dead Sea, 5 miles north of the Arnon River, and 67 miles south of Ham. It is literally, 'the plain of two cities.' It was on the frontier of Moab (Ezekiel 25:9; cf. Jeremiah 48:1,2,23,24). It later became part of Reuben's territory (Numbers 32:37, Joshua 13:19).], and the Horites [Chorites in Hebrew. These were the original inhabitants of Seir who were later driven out and destroyed by Esau's descendants (Deuteronomy 2:12, 2:22; cf. Genesis 36.8). Seir may have been named later, after Seir the Horite (cf. Genesis 36:27). See note on Genesis 36:2.] in the hill country of Seir [The area later occupied by Esau (Genesis 36:8). Seir is the hill country to the south of the Dead Sea. This means that the invaders swung around the Dead Sea and headed west.], as far as Eyl Paran [To the west of Seir. Eyl is translated 'plain' in the Targum. According to this, it might be associated with the plain known as Arabah directly south of the Dead Sea (see below). Other sources render this 'Terebinth of Paran' (Ramban; Septuagint), indicating a grove or oasis. It would then be related to the word elon (see note on Genesis 12:6). See Rashi, Targum on Ezekiel 31:14. Paran was the area settled by Ishmael (Genesis 21:21). It was on the way from Sinai (Numbers 10:12), from where the spies were sent out, heading through the Tzin Desert (Numbers 13:3,21). The Arabah is between Paran and Tophel (Deuteronomy 1:1).], which borders the desert [Probably the Tzin Desert, see note on Genesis 14:6, 'Eyl Paran'.].

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And in the fourteenth year came Kedorlaomer, and the melachim that were with him, and they defeated the Rephaim in Ashterot Karnayim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-Kiryatayim, And the Chori in their Mt Seir, as far as Eil-Paran, which is near the midbar.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

The Amplified Bible                And in the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, And the Horites in their Mount Seir as far as El-paran, which is on the border of the wilderness.

Benner Mechanical Trans1    and~ in~ Four Ten Year he~ did~ Come “Kedarla'omer [Attack for sheaves]” and~ the~ King~ s Which At~ him and~ they(m)~ will~ Hit At “Rapha [Heal]”~ s in~ “Ashterot-Qaraniym [Growths of two horns]” and~ At the~ “Zuz [Creature]”~ s in~ “Ham [Roar]” and~ At the~ “Eym [Terror]”~ s in~ “Shaweh-Qiryatayim [Plain of cities]” and~ At the~ “Hhor [Cave Dweller]”~ of in~ Mount~ them(m) “Se'iyr [Hairy]” Until “Eyl-Paran [Post of decoration]” Which Upon the~ Wilderness.

Benner Mechanical Trans2    ...and in the fourteenth year “Kedarla'omer [Attack for sheaves]” came and the kings which were with him and they hit the ones of “Rapha [Heal]” in “Ashterot-Qaraniym [Growths of two horns]” and the ones of “Zuz [Creature]” in “Ham [Roar]” and the ones of “Eym [Terror]” in “Shaweh-Qiryatayim [Plain of cities]”, and the one of “Hhor [Cave dweller]” in their mount of “Se'iyr [Hairy]” as far as “Eyl-Paran [Post of decoration]” which is upon the wilderness,...

English Standard V. – UK       In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness.

NASB                                     In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated [Lit smote] the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim [Or the plain of Kiriathaim], and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

New RSV                               In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the edge of the wilderness;...

Syndein/Thieme                     {3 Races of Giants are attacked - Securing the flanks and Providing Good training for the Battle of the Vale of Siddim}

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him and drove back and slaughtered the Rephaims {famous giant peoples} in Ashteroth Karnaim and the Zuzims {also famous giant peoples} in Ham and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites in their mount Seir {cave dwellers and also giants} unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.

Young's Updated LT              And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings who are with him, and they smite the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-Paran, which is by the wilderness.

The gist of this verse:          In the 14^th year, the kings of the east conquered several groups of men and cities before dealing with those in rebellion.

Translation: In the 14^th year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who [are] with him came...

For 12 years, these people of Sodom and Gomorrah served Chedorlaomer, which means, they paid tribute to him. Then, in the 13^th year, they rebelled, although exactly what they did is not recorded. This is not really something that he can tolerate.

We understand the 14^th year—it takes awhile to respond to what is happening 500 miles away—but then, who are all of these other people? This 4-king alliance from the east appears to be taking the scenic route. This gives us an idea as to how they work. They have a large, well-trained army, and, rather than go directly to Sodom and Gomorrah, they attack and defeat several people along the way. Let me suggest 3 reasons why this is done (1) It is on the way. Just as you might be going grocery shopping, and you are asked to stop by the hardware store and pick up something, since it is on the way; that is how this was viewed. (2) We do not know how logistics worked for this ancient army. They have to be fed. It is possible that they conquer these other peoples in order to eat. (3) Strategically, it is better to control contiguous sets of people, rather than to have places here and there which are independent. That means, in order to move tribute from a protectorate in the far west, they would have to move through territory which is independently held. So, in all of these areas in between, they either needed a controlling treaty or they needed to simply conquer these people. Once they have been conquered, then they will not become allies of the people the eastern alliance is going to put down. (4) Finally, if this is known to the western coalition, then this would give the eastern alliance a psychological advantage as well.

Chedor and company were busy making war when those of the pentapolis rebelled. It takes time to prepare for war, to map out what is going to be done, and they rebelled when Chedorlaomer and his allies were preparing for an attack on those mentioned. It was obviously a major campaign to solidify and to expand their control. Parallel to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and east of same is the very famous King's Highway. This was known to exist long before 2000 b.c.. Chedorlaomer and his allies were likely making a trek along this highway during this campaign. This was likely an important trade route and dotted with various groups of peoples. One view is that the kings of the east were taking control of a portion of this highway. At the north end of this highway and across from the Sea of Galilee is Ashteroth-karnaim, never referred to again in the Bible.

From http://www.lessing-photo.com/p2/030301/03030132.jpg

Translation: ...and they conquered the Rephaim in Ashteroth-Karnaim,...