Amraphel

Who were these kings who dared to challenge forces beyond human comprehension? What civilizations stood behind such a vast coalition of power? And who were these giants, these monstrous beings who fought and fell upon the ancient plains? Where did they come from, and what remained of them after the battle's end? Now, let us plunge together into this mysterious account, Genesis chapter fourteen, where between the lines of the sacred text rests the record of a forgotten war.

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; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea.

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

A fertile land where empires were born, ziggurats were raised, and the first human writings were etched into clay.

Identified by many as Babylon itself, Shinar was a center of power and wisdom where, according to ancient traditions, the earliest human empires flourished under the influence of the so-called ancient gods, entities said to have taught mankind the arts of science, warfare, and governance.

It is within this primordial setting that Amraphel, king of Shinar, emerges, marching alongside Tidal, king of nations; Arioch, king of Ellasar; and Chedorlaomer, king of Elam.

Together, they formed a fearsome alliance, devastating Sodom and the surrounding cities in a bloody campaign that turned the Vale of Siddim into a wasteland, a field of ruins where kings and giants fell side by side.

"About this time war broke out in the region.

King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim..." Goiim?

Stop it.

It's Goi, dude.

Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.

Then the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) prepared for battle in the Valley of the Dead Sea." We're gonna, we're gonna catch up here in a minute.

"They fought against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar, four kings against five.

As it happened, the Valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits.

They're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're kind of local chieftains of their towns.

And these ones are Amraphel, king of Shinar, which is roughly Babylon off to the east, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, Tidal, king of Roy.

We don't-- We know next to nothing about these, um, but these four local warlords.

And it becomes apparent that Kedorlaomer is the leader.

Says, "And Esau at that time, after the death of Abraham, frequently went into the field to hunt.

And Nimrod, King of Babel, the same was Amraphel, also frequently went with his mighty men to hunt in the field and to walk about with his men in the cool of the day.

And Nimrod was observing Esau all the days, for a jealousy was formed in the heart of Nimrod against Esau all the days.

And on a certain day, Esau went into the field to hunt and found Nimrod walking in the wilderness with his two men.

Surely he could never have attained so great an age had he not performed meritorious deeds.

He reflected, too, that Og was the only one of the original giant brood who had escaped the sword of the angel Amraphel, and it seemed therefore as if he must be under some sort of divine protection.

While he thus communed with himself and sought for guidance in prayer, he seemed to hear from on high a direct answer to his questionings.

What matters to thee Og's gigantic stature? He is as a green leaf in thy hand.

Genesis chapter 14 beginning in verse 1.

At the time when Amraphel was king of Shinar, Ariokh king of Eleazar, Kerdoliomar king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goyim, these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Bersha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Adma, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela, that is, Soar.

All these latter kings joined forces in the valley of Siddim, that is the Dead Sea Valley.

For 12 years, they had been subject to Cerdol Iomar, but in the 13th year, they rebelled.

Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

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.

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

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

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.

And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, which dwelt in Hazezontamar.

And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela the same is Zoar; and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

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

And that brings us to Genesis chapter 14, beginning in verse one, if you'd follow along with me.

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Ariok, king of Elassar, and Chedolamir, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of nations, that they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, Bersha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Adma, Shemabir, king of Zeboam, and the king of Bela, that is Zoar.

And all these joined together in the valley of Siddam, that is the salt sea.

12 years they had served Chedolamir, and in the 13th year, they rebelled.

Then they turned back and came to Ammisfet, that is Kadesh, and they attacked all the country of the Amalekites and also of the Amorites who dwelt in Hazan on Tamar.

And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the rest of the kings that were with him, they joined together in the battle at the valley of Siddam against Chedolamir, king of El and Tidal, king of nations.

Amraphel, king of Shinar, Ariok, king of Elassar, and four kings.

Here's what it comes down to.