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CHAPTER XIV.

Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar,

ND it came to pass, in the Chedorlaoner king of Elam, days of Amraphel king of and Tidal king of nations;

a ch. 10. 10. & 11. 2.

where thou art;' cease to dwell upon your present privations, disquietudes, and losses; sorrow not as men without hope; look from the place' where sin has tainted every comfort and blighted every prospect, and let the eye of faith cast its glances of hope and joy to the inheritance prepared for us. 'For all the land which thou seest to thee will I give it.'

CHAPTER XIV.

b Is. 11. 11.

he made of it was to restore whatever had been taken to its rightful owners.

1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar. Gr. Ev ry Baride in the reign or reigningtime. From the extreme antiquity of the event here recorded, and the little light which is elsewhere thrown, either by sacred or profane history, upon the persons and places designated, great obscurity necessarily attaches to several parts of the narrative. It is clear that Chedorlaomer was the chief personage concerned in this expedition, but whether he or Amraphel was at this time the supreme potentate of the East, or in other words, whether Persia (Elam) or Assyria (Shinar) had the ascendancy, is very difficult to be determined. As it is a matter of mere historical interest, but slightly affecting the practical lessons which we are more anxious to deduce from the record, we shall glance but briefly at this view of the subject.-As the countries about the Euphrates and Tigris were that part of the world where the sons of Noah began to settle after leaving the ark, it was there that population and power would first naturally accumulate, and lead to the establishment of despotic governments. The families and tribes emigrating from these regions would be considered in the light of colonies, which ought to be subject to the parent state. Such it appears proba

The next important incident detailed in the life of Abraham, differs remarkably from all that have preceded it. The patriarch was pre-eminently a man of peace, who, as we have seen, was willing to sacrifice every worldly advantage rather than interrupt that harmony which he knew to be so essential to the honour of his religious profession, and so entirely in accordance with the will of God. On the present occasion, however, we find him assuming the character of the warrior, placing himself at the head of a numerous body of his servants, and waging a short but successful conflict with the confederate princes who had invaded Canaan from the East. Much as the pious heart must dislike the very name of war, and utterly unchristian and unjustifiable as it will consider every species of offensive warfare, yet we cannot withhold our approbation from this truly heroic and disinterested action of the patriarch. To succour the weak, to relieve the distres-ble were the ideas of the four Eastern sed, to liberate the captive, were his kings here mentioned, and we may suponly motives, and the comfort of an pose that it was with a view of enforapproving conscience his only reward; cing this subjection, which after having for we find that after having been fa- been twelve years acknowledged, was voured with the most signal success at length thrown off, that the present jnstead of turning the fruits of his vic-invasion was planned. In what relatory to his own advantage, all the use tion the four kings had previously stood

2 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.

c Deut. 29. 33. d ch. 19. 22

different tribes, and put themselves under the conduct of one who would gratify their love of adventure or hope of spoil.

2. That these made war, &c. This is the first war expressly recorded in the annals of the human race, and it is evident that it sprung from the same causes that have given rise to the thousands of wars, which, from that day to this, have wasted the family of man and drenched the earth in blood-vainglorious pride and grasping ambition. Nor can we hope for a cessation of the barbarous practice till the general prev

to each other, is uncertain; but they now combined as allies, and marched with their forces, which we have no reason to think were very large, to the land of Canaan. Indeed, it is very important to bear in mind that the term 'king,' in this and other early applications, is far from carrying with it the import which our modern ideas of royalty are apt to connect with the title. The kings of those primitive times were mere petty chieftains, answering to the Arab, sheikhs of latter days, ruling over a single town and the surrounding district, or acting as the heads of tribes more or less numerous, and totally un-alence of Christianity, in the power of like the potent sovereigns of modern times. This will be evident from the fact that each of the little cities of the plain, which lay within a few miles of each other, is said to have had its distinct king, all of whom united on this occasion in opposing their common invaders. The whole narrative is to be considered as entirely subordinate to the history of Abraham, and introduced here mainly for the purpose of illustrating a new and interesting feature of his character, and of displaying new aspects of that kind Providence which watches with such constant vigilance over the welfare of his servants.Tidal king of nations. Heb.

1. The Heb. 7 goyim is usually rendered Gentiles, and though the majority of commentators are of opinion that Tidal's dominions lay in Upper Galilee, which was in aftertimes called 'Galilee of the Gentiles,' (or Galilee of the nations), Is. 9. 1. Mat. 4. 15, yet we think it more probable that the title denotes the head of a mixed multitude of people, who had flocked together to his standard from different regions and

of its peaceful spirit, shall have extinguished the flames of these unhallowed passions, and taught men to regard each other as brethren, who cannot, if they conceived aright of their mutual interests, have any conflicting objects that should drive them to deeds of violence. This earliest account of an act of warfare is very remarkable, and its difficulties will be best elucidated by a reference to existing practices among the Arab tribes. It is indeed by no means unlikely, that although we have supposed the invading kings such monarchs as the kings of the plain are ascertained to have been, they were in fact nomade chiefs or sheikhs, inhabiting the country between Canaan and the Euphrates, and some of them perhaps beyond that river. The expedition has the whole appearauce of an Arab incursion. Their apparently rapid sweep, like a whirlwind, over the countries indicated-their return with captives and spoil-and the ultimate night-surprise and easy overthrow by Abraham and his friends--are all circumstances strikingly analogous to

f

5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote

3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, e which is the salt sea, 4 Twelve years they served Rephaims in Ashteroth Chedorlaomer, an in the thir- Karnaim, and the Zuzims in teenth year they rebelled. Ham, and the Emims in Shaveb Kiriathaim,

eat. 3. 1. um. 34. 12. Josh. 3. 16. Ps. 1. 34. f ch. 9. 26.

g ch. 15. 20. Deut. 3. 11. h Josh. 12. 4. & 13. 12. i Deut 2. 20. k Deut. 2. 10. 11.

often happens, a lesser judgment was made the precursor of a greater.

3. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim. That is, these last named kings, ruling the cities of the plain, having entered into a league or confederacy, for the defence of their territory, assembled their forces in the place mentioned. The original phrase for 'joining battle' v. 8, is different. It would seem from this text that the part of the valley of Jordan occupied by these cities and their territories, and which now forms the bed of the Dead Sea, was then called 'The vale of Siddim.' For observations on the overthrow of these cities and on the Dead Sea, see Notes on ch. 19. 24, 25.

Arab usages on both sides. That their force was not numerous is evident from the circumstance that the petty kings of the plain ventured to give them battle on their return flushed with success, and from the small body by which they were defeated. There are few sheikhs of the present time who can bring more than 300 horsemen into action; and if we suppose each of the four 'kings' brought such a number of men, lightly armed, and unencumbered with baggage, we have probably the highest estimate that can be allowed in the present instance. They were probably mounted on camels, and few things are more common in our own day than to hear of Arabs or Turcomans, in even much smaller numbers, traversing extensive deserts, scouring the country beyond, sacking villages, menacing and entering large towns in the night, all with astonishing rapidity, and return laden with captives and spoil. The affair has the appearance altogether of a Turcoman chappow on a large scale.' Pict. Bible. The five cities here mentioned s'ood near together on the plain of Jordan, constituting what is frequently termed the Pentapolis, or five fold city, and, ex-teenth year they rebelled. That is, recept Zoar, were all afterwards destroyed by fire from heaven. Sodom and Gomorrah are always so mentioned as to appear the principal of the five, and Bela was probably the least important. Had they heard the voice of the first rod, and humbled themselves in repentance, they might have escaped the stroke of the second; but as it was, as

4. Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer. It would seem, therefore, on the whole, that the ascendancy of the kingdom of Babylon, founded by the sons of Ham under Nimrod, had at this time ceased or declined, and that Persia, settled by the descendants of Shem, had become the dominant nation of the Eastern world. In this fact we see the incipient accomplishment of the predictión, that Canaan should be the servant of Shem.-¶ In the thir

fused to pay tribute, the usual sign of subjection. Thus it is said of Hezekiah, 2 Kings, 18. 7, 'And he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not,' i. e. withheld the tribute which had formerly been exacted of the kings of Judah.

5. Smote the Rephaims-Zuzims-Emims. These would seem to have

king of Bela, (the same is Zoar); and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

10 And the vale of Siddim was full of "slime-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there and they that remained fled to the mountain.

n ch. 11. 3. 0 ch. 19. 17, 30.

after smiting the people above mentioned, and taking a northerly direction entered the valley of the Jordan, and attacked the inhabitants of the plain. En-mishpat, i. e. fountain of judgment, is so called by anticipation. This name was conferred in conscquence of the circumstance recorded Num. 20. 10, where God gave judgment or sentence against Moses and Aaron for their offence thus committed. - All the country of the Amalekites. Heb. all the field of the Amalekite. This also by anticipation; as Amalek was not yet Understand it

been people of extraordinary stature 7. And they returned, and came to inhabiting the country east of the Jor-En-mishpat. That is, turned about, dan and Dead sea. The country of the Rephaims is identified with that of Bashan, the last king of which, Og, so famous for his stature, was dispossessed by the Israelites, when the city of Ashteroth was given to the halftribe of Manasseh, whose allotment was east of Jordan. The Zuzims and Emims had been previously dispossessed of their territory by the children of Moab and Ammon, the sons of Lot. The invading chiefs appear to have overrun the eastern bank of the Jordan, from near its source, to the desert south of Canaan, through which they proceeded westward toward the Med-born. iterranean; and, after having made a near approach to that sea, returned, and on their re-ascent through the vale of the Jordan, gave battle to the kings of the plain. This account of their track will be readily understood by reference to any map in which the situtions of the early nations of this region are given.- TShaveh Kiriathaim. Or, the plains or flats of Kiriathaim.'

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6. And the Horites in their mount Seir. The name imports dwellers in caves, Troglodites. For an account of mount Seir and the land of Edom, see note on ch. 36. 9.

Gen. 36. 10, 11.

of the country afterwards occupied by the Amalekites. The sacred writer speaks of places by the names most familiar in his own times.

So

10. And the vale of Siddim was full of slime-pits. Heb. 2783 box) was pits, pits, of slime; an idiom common to the Hebrew when it would convey the idea of a great number. 'heaps, heaps,' Ex. 8. 14. 'Ranks, ranks (Gr.),' Mark, 5, 40. It denotes either places where asphaltum or bitumen oozed out of the ground, obstructing the flight of the discomfited host; or places which had been excavated in digging bitumen to be employ,

12 And they took Lot, Abram's 9 a brother's son, r who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

q ch. 12. 5. r ch. 13. 12.

Persians, who had also maltreated the inhabitants, who had afterwards fled to the mountains. The news of this transaction having been carried overnight to the next large village, about twenty miles distant, the Persians, on their arrival there the next day, found it completely deserted by the inhabitants, who had, in the short interval, removed with all their live stock and goods to the mountains. He found it in this condition a fortnight later; the inhabitants being afraid to come back till the soldiers should have returned from their expedition. Burckhardt, in his 'Notes on the Bedouins and Wahabys,' p. 337, mentions that, when the Wahabys menaced Damascus in 1810, the inhabitants sent off all their valuable property to the mountains of Lebanon.' Pict. Bible.

ed perhaps in the construction of their houses; a material which, from being strongly impregnated with sulphureous matter, would render their city a more easy prey to the devouring element. See note on ch. 19. 24, 25.- - Fell there. That is, fell in the sense of being completely routed, and for the most part slain, though these kings and others, it appears from v. 13, 17, 21, survived.- -T And they that remained fled to the mountain. Heb. 'Mountain' is here to be understood as a collective singular for mountains or mountainous regions in the vicinity. 'It is still a common practice in the East for the inhabitants of towns and villages to hasten for safety to the mountains in times of alarm and danger, or at least to send their valuable property away. The moveables of the Asiatics, in camps, villages, and towns, are astonishingly few compared with those which the refinements of European life render necessary. A few carpets, kettles, and dishes of tinned copper, compose the bulk of their property, which can speedily be packed up, and sent away on the backs of camels or mules, with the women and children mounted on the baggage. In this way a large village or town is in a few hours completely gutted, and the inhabitants, with every stick and rag be12. And they took Lot, &c. A litlonging to them, can place themselves eral rendering of this verse, according in safety in the mountains. The writer to the order of the words in the origiof this note travelled in Koordistan innal, is as follows;-' And they took Lot, 1829, following, in one part of the journey, the course which had recently been taken by the Persian troops in their march from Tabreez to Sulimanieh. He came to one large village which had been partially burnt by the

11. Took all the goods. Or, all the substance. The word is singular in the original, implying collectively all their moveable property. The Greek renders it somewhat strangely TV ROV Taoav all their horse-force; a kind of property which they were very unlikely to possess.- T And all their victuals. "Fulness of bread,' was part of their sin, F.zek. 16. 49; and now 'cleanness of teeth' is made a piece of their punishment, in God's just judgment! Trapp.

and his goods, Abram's brother's son, and departed: and he was dwelling in Sodom.' 'He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but the companion of fools shall be destroyed.' Prov. 13, 20, The passage is so constructed