Bible Strands
Genesis 14:7
Then 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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records the allied kings’ forces as they pivot from their northern campaign to strike the southern frontier, immediately preceding the mobilization of the valley kings.
The words — וַ֠/יָּשֻׁבוּ (va/i.ya.shu.vu) means "and they turned back," and וַ/יַּכּ֕וּ (va/i.ya.Ku) means "and they defeated."
The thread — The location En-mishpat is identified as Kadesh, a boundary marker that reappears in Genesis 16:14 and Genesis 20:1, while the southern military movement echoes the Edomite threat in 2 Chronicles 20:2.
Why it lands — The text records a tactical reversal that expands the war zone to the Amalekite and Amorite territories, establishing the geographical stakes for the battle in the Valley of Siddim.
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
And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 20:2 Then some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the Sea; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi).
- Genesis 16:14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is located between Kadesh and Bered.
- Genesis 20:1 Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,
- Genesis 36:12 Additionally, Timna, a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz, gave birth to Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.
- Genesis 36:16 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. They are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and they are the grandsons of Adah.
- Exodus 17:8 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
- Numbers 13:26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
- Numbers 14:43 For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, He will not be with you.”
- Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.
- Numbers 20:1 In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.