Genesis 14:7

Genesis 14:7, in plain English

After crushing the giant peoples, the invading army turns back toward Canaan, conquering the Amalekites and the Amorites who live near the Dead Sea.

Why it's here

Now Chedorlaomer is moving into the final phase of his campaign, sweeping through the territories that border the Jordan Valley where the rebellious kings are waiting. He's clearing the region of any potential threats or interference.

Who's speaking

The narrator, continuing the military narrative.

Where it sits in the story

The pressure is building. Chedorlaomer is getting closer to his actual target—the five kings who rebelled against him. Every conquest makes that final confrontation more inevitable.

The scholarly reading

The coalition then turned northward, striking En-mishpat (Kadesh) and subjugating the Amalekites and Amorites of Hazazon-tamar, consolidating total regional dominance.

Language and setting

En-mishpat (עין משׁפט), 'the spring of judgment,' identified parenthetically as Kadesh, was a significant oasis settlement and would later feature prominently in Israel's wilderness wanderings. The northern pivot indicates a sophisticated military strategy designed to secure both northern and southern trade routes simultaneously. The Amalekites, mentioned here anachronistically (they become more prominent in later biblical narratives), and the Amorites represent settled agricultural populations whose subjugation would provide resources for the coalition's continued operations.

Voice

The narrator detailing the campaign's completion.

Significance

By establishing absolute military supremacy across the entire region, the text prepares the audience for Abraham's stunning upset victory, which can only be explained by divine intervention rather than military advantage.

5In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

6and the Horites in the area of Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is near the desert.

7Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

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 arrayed themselves for battle in the Valley of Siddim

9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

Read all of Genesis 14 — Abram becomes a warrior overnight to rescue Lot. Then a mysterious priest-king named Melchizedek appears — and nothing about him is accidental.