What is the meaning of Genesis 14:3? The latter five • Genesis 14:2 has just named the five kings—“Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).” • Scripture presents them as real rulers over real cities. Later passages confirm the historical reality of these same places when judgment falls on them (Genesis 19:24–25; Deuteronomy 29:23). • Their grouping reminds us that human history unfolds exactly as God records it, down to individual names. Just as Genesis 10 gave literal lineages, Genesis 14 gives literal kings. came as allies • The says, “The latter five came as allies…,” highlighting an intentional coalition. • Alliances for mutual defense show up throughout Scripture—some prudent (1 Samuel 23:16–18), some disastrous (2 Chronicles 18:1–34). These five believe their unity guarantees success. • Psalm 2:1–4 portrays nations banding together against God’s rule, while Proverbs 21:30 reminds us, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.” The verse subtly foreshadows that even the strongest human confederacies remain subject to His sovereignty. to the Valley of Siddim • This valley sat at the south end of the Jordan plain, later submerged or transformed by geological changes God allowed (Genesis 19:25, 28). • It was fertile before the judgment on Sodom—“like the garden of the LORD” (Genesis 13:10). Choosing this valley for battle shows the kings’ desire to control rich resources, a theme echoed in later conflicts over prosperous land (Joshua 11:5). • The location matters: Scripture anchors spiritual lessons in concrete geography, reinforcing that God’s dealings with humanity take place in real space and time. (that is, the Salt Sea) • Moses offers a parenthetical update for later readers: the Valley of Siddim became “the Salt Sea,” today’s Dead Sea. • Numbers 34:3–12 and Joshua 15:2 use the same designation when marking Israel’s borders, confirming the editorial note’s accuracy. • The transformation from lush valley to lifeless salt basin underlines the price of sin. Where armies once gathered, nothing thrives—a standing monument akin to Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26) and Jude 7’s description of Sodom as an “example of eternal fire.” summary Genesis 14:3 records five literal kings forging an alliance, marching to a real valley later known as the Salt Sea. Their coalition flaunts human confidence, yet the geography itself testifies that God’s purposes prevail. What began as a fertile plain ripe for conquest became a salt-filled wasteland—reminding every reader that earthly power and rich terrain are fleeting, but the Lord’s word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). |
    |