Genesis 14:1-2 New English Translation

The Blessing of Victory for God’s People

14 At that time^[a] Amraphel king of Shinar,^[b] Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations^[c] ²went to war^[d] against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).^[e]

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Footnotes

Genesis 14:1 tn The sentence begins with the temporal indicator וַיְהִי (vay^ehi) followed by “in the days of.”
Genesis 14:1 sn Shinar (also in v. 9) is the region of Babylonia.
Genesis 14:1 tn Or “king of Goyim.” The Hebrew term גּוֹיִם (goyim) means “nations,” but a number of modern translations merely transliterate the Hebrew (cf. NEB “Goyim”; NIV, NRSV “Goiim”).
Genesis 14:2 tn Heb “made war.”sn Went to war. The conflict here reflects international warfare in the Early and Middle Bronze periods. The countries operated with overlords and vassals. Kings ruled over city states, or sometimes a number of city states (i.e., nations). Due to their treaties, when one went to war, those confederate with him joined him in battle. It appears here that it is Kedorlaomer’s war, because the western city states have rebelled against him (meaning they did not send products as tribute to keep him from invading them).
Genesis 14:2 sn On the geographical background of vv. 1-2 see J. P. Harland, “Sodom and Gomorrah,” The Biblical Archaeologist Reader, 1:41-75; and D. N. Freedman, “The Real Story of the Ebla Tablets, Ebla and the Cities of the Plain,” BA 41 (1978): 143-64.

New English Translation (NET)