208A Sumerian king who conquered the West, and 14 years later is killed in battle, points uniquely to Ur-Nammu, king of Sumer ( founder of the 3rd Dynasty of Ur). Chronologies proposed for his reign are: Chronology BC Dates (1st - last year of reign) High 2173-2156 Middle 2117-2100 Low 2053-2036 Very low 2029-2012 [Revisionists centuries later] Of these, the 2036, and possibly 2012, dates for his death are consistent with possible dates of Joseph.
209Likely Larsa, being more closely associated with Ur.
210Or perhaps, Kutir-Laghamar (meaning, Servant of [the god] Laghamar).
211Or, nations, or, Gutium (archaeology).
14: 2 that 212they 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).
212It would appear Ur-Nammu put together an alliance with Sumer’s traditional enemies, Elam and Gutium, which gave Canaan to Elam, the mountains SE of the Dead Sea to Gutium (Hurrians, Horites), Aram (Syria) to Ur, and perhaps Mari or Lebanon to Larsa. There might be a connection between the first war and Abram’s departure to Haran; Abram would have known their military tactics and weaknesses. These two wars together may have ended the Early Bronze Age.
14: 3 All these 213joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is now the Salt Sea).
213Or, joined themselves together against
14: 4 Twelve years they served Kedorlaghomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
14: 5 And in the fourteenth year came Kedorlaghomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in 214Shaveh-kiriathaim,
214Or, in the plain of Kiriathaim,
14: 6 and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the wilderness.
14: 7 And they returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and smote all the 215country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar.
215Hb. field
14: 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim;
14: 9 against Kedorlaghomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.
14: 10 Now the vale of Siddim was full of 216slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.
216That is, bitumen pits;
14: 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
14: 12 And they took 217Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
217Except for this tactical mistake, the eastern kings would likely not have encountered Abram.
14: 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew: now he dwelt by the 218oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Abram.
218Or, terebinths
14: 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 219three hundred eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
219Written as alphabetic numerics, שיח, chiysh, to make haste,
14: 15 And he divided himself against them 220by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the 221left hand of Damascus.
220Witness to this surprise attack is borne by a Sumerian tablet, saying, [Ur-Nammu] “had been abandoned on the battlefield like a crushed vessel.” Samuel Noah Kramer, “The Sumerians;” Univ. Chicago Press, 1963; p. 68, 131.
221Or, north of Damascus.
14: 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
14: 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, 222after his return from the slaughter of Kedorlaghomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King’s Vale).
222Likely not before the eighth month (about the modern May), as Spring began the fighting season, and the Elamite army travelled 2000 km to Dan, and there were at least eight days of battle.
14: 18 And 223Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of 224God Most High.
223Whether Melchizedek was an Elamite or a Jebusite (Canaanite) is not stated, but he is apparently the one through whom tribute had been paid.
224Hb. El Elyon Also in vss. 19, 20, 22.
14: 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, 225acquirer of heaven and earth:
225That is, whether by making or buying and in vs. 22
14: 20 and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.
14: 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, give me the souls, and take the goods to thyself.
14: 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto Jehovah, God Most High, acquirer of heaven and earth,
14: 23 that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
14: 24 226save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men that went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
226Or, let there be nothing for me; only that etc.
