Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

ABRAHAM AND LOT 14:8-12
the fifteenth and fourteenth centuries B.C, (Cf. Gen. 32:3,
36:20 f.; Deut. 2:l-29; Josh. 24:4; 1 Chron. 4:42 ff.).
(2) The Anzalehites, traditional enemies of Israel (Exo.
17:8-16, Deut. 25:17-19, 1 Sam., chs. 15 and 30). (3)
The Aiizorites, early occupants of Syria and Palestine; in
the third millenium B.C. this region was designated by
Babylonian records “the land of the Amorites.” Hammurabi
conquered Mari, the Amorite capital, in the 17th
century B.C. They are listed with the families occupying
Canaan in Gen. 10: 1 5 ff. Hazazon-taiizar, v. 7, is identified
with Engedi, on the west shore of the Dead Sea (2
Chron. 20:2). The Eastern invaders apparently made a
wide turn to the right before starting homeward. Enivisbpad
is positively identified here with Kadesh Barnea,
the famous stopping-place of the Israelites during their
wilderness wanderings. It will thus be seen that El-paran
marked the farthest point reached, for, after reaching it,
the invaders “returned” (“turned baclr”) in the direction
of En -mis hpat .
The Battle-and Disaster (vv. 8-12),
The kings of
the Cities of the Plain now joined battle with the Eastern
allies in the Vale of Siddim. Leupold (EG, 455) : “That
the kings of the Dead Sea region did not turn out sooner
to encounter the foe of whose approach they had long
been aware, indicates either lack of ability and enterprise,
or lack of courage, or, perhaps, the illusory hope on their
part that their enemies would not venture against them.
It seems most in harmony with the facts of the case to
argue that the debauched mode of life characteristic of
this group had debased their courage so that they only took
up arms when actually compelled to and then put up but
a pitiable defense.” It should be noted that Sodom is
mentioned first in the list of the Cities of the Plain
(Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela) ; this in-
dicates that the king of Sodom was the leader of the defense
forces and that Sodom itself was the most powerful city in
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