Gen 14:2-3 | KD | STEP | In the account is introduced by a list of the parties engaged in war. The kings named here are not mentioned again. On Shinar , see ; and on Elam , Gen 10:22. It cannot be determined with certainty where Ellasar was. Knobel supposes it to be Artemita , which was also called Χαλάσαρ, in southern Assyria, to the north of Babylon. Goyim is not used here for nations generally, but is the name of one particular nation or country. In Delitzsch 's opinion it is an older name for Galilee, though probably with different boundaries (cf. ; Jdg 4:2; and ). - The verb עשׂוּ ( made ), in , is governed by the kings mentioned in Gen 14:1. To Bela , whose king is not mentioned by name, the later name Zoar (vid., ) is added as being better known.

‏ Genesis 14:2-3

In Gen 14:1-3 the account is introduced by a list of the parties engaged in war. The kings named here are not mentioned again. On Shinar, see Gen 10:10; and on Elam, Gen 10:22. It cannot be determined with certainty where Ellasar was. Knobel supposes it to be Artemita, which was also called Χαλάσαρ, in southern Assyria, to the north of Babylon. Goyim is not used here for nations generally, but is the name of one particular nation or country. In Delitzsch's opinion it is an older name for Galilee, though probably with different boundaries (cf. Jos 12:23; Jdg 4:2; and Isa 9:1). - The verb עשׂוּ (made), in Gen 14:2, is governed by the kings mentioned in Gen 14:1. To Bela, whose king is not mentioned by name, the later name Zoar (vid., Gen 19:22) is added as being better known. Gen 14:3

“All these (five kings) allied themselves together, (and came with their forces) into the vale of Siddim (השׂדּים, prob. fields of plains), which is the Salt Sea;” that is to say, which was changed into the Salt Sea on the destruction of its cities (Gen 19:24-25). That there should be five kings in the five cities (πεντάπολις, Wis. 10:6) of this valley, was quite in harmony with the condition of Canaan, where even at a later period every city had its king.