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,
In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim.
This verse describes how a coalition of eastern kings led by Chedorlaomer conquered various giant tribes in different cities during their military campaign.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Abraham's time, around 2000 BC, when powerful Mesopotamian kings regularly conducted military campaigns to maintain control over vassal cities. The tribes mentioned (Rephaites, Zuzites, Emites) were known as giant peoples who inhabited the land before Israel. This campaign was part of Chedorlaomer's effort to suppress a rebellion by the cities of the Jordan Valley, including Sodom and Gomorrah.
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