Genesis 14:8 - The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;
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What does "Genesis 14:8" mean?
Genesis 14:8 describes a military alliance and the beginning of a battle. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out...": This lists the kings of five cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (which was also known as Zoar). They "went out" meaning they mobilized their armies and left their cities. These cities were located in the Jordan Valley.
"...and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;": This means the five kings formed their armies into battle formation ("set the battle in array") in the valley of Siddim. This valley was known for its deposits of asphalt (or "slime pits" as some translations render it), which would play a role in the subsequent battle. They were preparing to fight against another group of kings (mentioned earlier in Genesis 14).
In short, this verse indicates:
A coalition of five city-states formed an alliance.
They mobilized their armies.
They positioned themselves in the valley of Siddim to fight against a common enemy.
The verse sets the scene for a larger conflict detailed in the rest of Genesis 14. The context is a war between this alliance of five kings against a coalition of four other kings who had been ruling over them for twelve years. These five kings had rebelled in their 13th year. The verse is therefore the beginning of a battle to determine who would be dominant in the region.
Genesis 14:8 - The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;
What does "Genesis 14:8" mean?
Genesis 14:8 describes a military alliance and the beginning of a battle. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out...": This lists the kings of five cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (which was also known as Zoar). They "went out" meaning they mobilized their armies and left their cities. These cities were located in the Jordan Valley.
"...and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim;": This means the five kings formed their armies into battle formation ("set the battle in array") in the valley of Siddim. This valley was known for its deposits of asphalt (or "slime pits" as some translations render it), which would play a role in the subsequent battle. They were preparing to fight against another group of kings (mentioned earlier in Genesis 14).
In short, this verse indicates:
A coalition of five city-states formed an alliance.
They mobilized their armies.
They positioned themselves in the valley of Siddim to fight against a common enemy.
The verse sets the scene for a larger conflict detailed in the rest of Genesis 14. The context is a war between this alliance of five kings against a coalition of four other kings who had been ruling over them for twelve years. These five kings had rebelled in their 13th year. The verse is therefore the beginning of a battle to determine who would be dominant in the region.