The Bible Slam: Genesis Chapter 14

Genesis 14 covers a war between Chedorlaomer and his allies with the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Zoar   in what was called "The Vale of Siddim." This Vale (or Valley) is presumed to be near the Dead Sea.

Lot is taken captive, so Abram rounds up an army of his 318 slaves and rescues him.   Apparently, the kings of Soddom and Gomorrah had fled and the possessions of the cities were taken.   When Abram returned these possessions after "smiting" the aggressors, the kings offered to let Abram keep them, and Abram refused, saying that the kings would say that they made Abram rich.

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Talking Points.

If fundamentalist Christians are correct and this is the "inerrant" word of God and moralistic guideline for humanity, then is it all right to have slaves?   According to the King James Version of the bible, Genesis 14:14 states that "… he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen …" Presumably, the trained servants were slaves who were born into his household.

What is the moralistic value of this story?

Finally, as the Skeptics Bible points out,

14:7 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.

The Amalekites were the descendants of Esau's grandson named Amalek, who was not born until after the Amalekits were smitten.   How could this be?

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  • http://www.biblewordofgod.com/ Bible Word of God

    Thanks Goddiscussion for the post. Humm.. this is something to really think and ponder over.

  • Michael Wetzel

    The authors of the Old Testment could name all the "kings" of the small villages around the valley of the Dead Sea, but they did not know the name of the "king" or pharaoh of Egypt, the most important ruler at the time of Abraham. This does not speak well of their worldliness. This same omission occurs with Moses, the authors did not write the actual name of the pharaoh at the time of Moses. The Egytians did rule in the "Holy Lands" for 150 years during which time the Hebrews would have been used as "slaves" to build roads and forts around the "Holy Lands".