Chedorlaomers Eastern Campaign Against the Rephaim

Genesis 14:1-7 narrates the first recorded military campaign in the Bible: Chedorlaomer of Elam led a four-king coalition (with Tidal, Amraphel, and Arioch) on a punitive sweep through the southern Levant after twelve years of rebellion by the Cities of the Plain. The campaign smashed three giant-peoples: "smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, And the Horites in their mount Seir" (Gen 14:5-6). Only after this Transjordan victory did Chedorlaomer turn west to crush Sodom and Gomorrah — capturing Lot in the process, setting up Abram's daring rescue.

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