Bible Strands
Genesis 14:2
went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator continues the campaign account initiated in Genesis 14:1 by identifying the opposing coalition. The text lists the five city-rulers who mobilized against the invading alliance.
The words — The Hebrew עָשׂ֣וּ ('a.Su) and מִלְחָמָ֗ה (mil.cha.Mah) literally render "they made war," defining the military action. The term מֶ֣לֶךְ (Me.lekh) explicitly attaches royal authority to the rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The thread — The named cities correspond to the territorial markers in Genesis 10:19 and the Jordan plain extending to Zoar in Genesis 13:10. The region’s subsequent destruction is later described in Deuteronomy 29:23.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition of the specific political geography involved in the conflict. It requires the reader to track how named cities and their rulers function as concrete historical actors rather than symbolic placeholders.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
Cross-references
- Genesis 13:10 And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
- Deuteronomy 29:23 All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt, unsown and unproductive, with no plant growing on it, just like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His fierce anger.
- Genesis 10:19 and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
- Isaiah 1:9 Unless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.
- Hosea 11:8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
- Genesis 19:20 Look, there is a town nearby where I can flee, and it is a small place. Please let me flee there—is it not a small place? Then my life will be saved.”
- Deuteronomy 34:3 the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho (the City of Palms) all the way to Zoar.
- 1 Samuel 13:18 another toward Beth-horon, and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.
- Nehemiah 11:34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
- Isaiah 15:5 My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.