Genesis 14:1

Genesis 14:1 says, And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;  Verse two adds, 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.  War broke out, the first war that we have a record of in scripture, and Sodom and Gomorrah were involved in it.  This was close to Abram, but especially close to Lot.  Followers of Christ today are often caught up in wars and are sometimes the targets of those at war.  Verse three states, All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.  I believe this means the war was fought in the valley of Sidom.  Verse four adds, Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.  I would interpret this to mean  an uprising after the initial defeat.  Chedorlaomer and his allies won, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and their allies were under his rule for twelve years, then they rebelled.  We hear a lot today about people rebelling against those in power over them, often without success.  Verse five declares, And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,   Verse six adds And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.   Those allied with Chedorloamer soon routed those who were rebelling against them.  Sometimes, those with the military power win today, but we as followers of Christ can be certain that ultimately we will be on the winning side, even if it is not in this lifetime.   Verse seven states, And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.  Then verse eight adds, And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;  This again speaks of a battle in Siddim, but since these cities had already been under the rule of Chedorlaomer for twelve years before the revolt, I believe this must be a second battle.  Verse nine states, 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.  There were three kings fighting with Chedolaomer against five who had rebelled, including those of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Verse ten declares, And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.  The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled to the slime pits, and those that didn't follow them fled to the mountains.  This would imply that the two kings abandoned their those that they ruled over.  We know that it is not unusual for ruler to put their own safety first if they are attacked, often abandoning their subjects.  Verse eleven says, And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.  The conquering armies took all the goods, or material wealth, of Sodom and Gomorrah with them.  Taking away their wealth meant Sodom and Gomorrah would no longer be a threat.  Controlling the resources of a country today often leaves those living there subjected to another country.  Verse twelve declares, And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.  This was a big mistake on the part of those in victory.  They took Lot and his goods with them.  Even if we are taken captive in this life, we can be certain that God has already given us everlasting freedom, and He will never leave us alone without hope.  Verse thirteen declares, And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.  News reached Abram about Lot being taken captive.  We can assume that the battle wasn't close enough for Abram to know about it, or that it just didn't concern him.  There are many wars today that we know very little about, even in these days of instant communication, and Christians are caught up in many of them, but I don't believe that we are called to conquer them all.  God has already defeated them for those who follow Him, though it may not be in this lifetime.