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;
So the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (which is also called Zoar) went out and prepared for battle in the Valley of Siddim.
This verse describes five local kings gathering their armies together to fight a battle in a specific valley.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, chapter 14 describes a rebellion by the kings of the Jordan Valley against their overlords from Mesopotamia, who had ruled over them for twelve years under Chedorlaomer. The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also known as Zoar) decided to join forces and fight back in the thirteenth year, setting the stage for a broader conflict in the ancient Near East. This event highlights the political alliances and wars common in that era, which ultimately draw in Abraham when his nephew Lot is captured during the invasion.
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