Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam who led a coalition of four kings from Mesopotamia. He had subjugated five kings in the Jordan Valley for twelve years, but when they revolted, he waged war against them and captured among others Lot, Abraham's nephew. He was finally defeated by Abraham in a daring night attack.
Événements clés
Kedorlaomer's dominion over the Jordan Valley
Kedorlaomer had ruled over the five kings in the Valley of Siddim for twelve years, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2these kings went to war 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.
In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and his three allied kings launched a major military campaign, defeating several peoples, including the Rephaites, Zuzites, Emim, and Horites.
5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came with the kings who were allied with him, and they defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim at Shaveh-kiriathaim,
7Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat, that is, Kadesh, and they struck down all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
Kedorlaomer and his allies defeated the five kings in the Valley of Siddim. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and the victors plundered the cities.
8Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar, marched out and drew up their battle lines against them in the Valley of Siddim—
10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, while the rest escaped to the hills.
When Abraham heard that Lot had been taken captive, he gathered 318 of his trained men and pursued Kedorlaomer all the way to Dan. In a night attack, Abraham defeated Kedorlaomer and his allies, freeing Lot and recovering all the plunder.
13One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner; these were allies of Abram.
14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he mustered his trained men, born in his household, three hundred eighteen of them, and pursued as far as Dan.
17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, that is, the King's Valley.