Genesis

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:4a):

‏‏‏‏שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה עָבְדוּ אֶת־כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר

Transliteration:

šᵉtêm ʿeśrê šānâ ʿābᵉdû ʾet-kᵉdārᵉlāʿōmer

Translation (TNIV):

For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

subject to....The Hebrew means "served." They had been required to pay him tribute, to give him whatever he demanded.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

שְׁתֵּים (šᵉtêm) : (dual) two.
עֶשְׂרֵה (ʿeśrê) : ten.
שָׁנָה (šānâ) : (here: singular form, plural meaning) years.
עָבְדוּ (ʿābᵉdû) : Qal perfect 3 c.p. of ‏עָבַד (ʿābad) : they had served.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object indicator.
כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר (kᵉdārᵉlāʿōmer) : Kedorlaomer.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:4b):

‏‏‏‏‏וּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה מָרָדוּ

Transliteration:

ûšᵉlōš-ʿeśrê šānâ mārādû

Translation (TNIV):

but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

rebelled....They probably refused to pay the annual tribute.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּשְׁלֹשׁ (ûšᵉlōš) : conjunction וּ (û) + construct of ‏שָׁלֹשׁ (šālōš) : but three.
עֶשְׂרֵה (ʿeśrê) : ten.
שָׁנָה (šānâ) : year[s].
מָרָדוּ (mārādû) : Qal perfect 3 c.p. pausal of ‏מָרַד (mārad) : they rebelled.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:5a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏וּבְאַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה

Transliteration:

ûbᵉʾarbaʿ ʿeśrê šānâ

Translation (TNIV):

In the fourteenth year

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

4-5. twelve years ... thirteenth year ... fourteenth year....These details are another indication of a precise historical source.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וּבְאַרְבַּע (ûbᵉʾarbaʿ) : conj. וּ (û) + prep. בְ (bᵉ) + numeral ‏אַרְבַּע (ʾarbaʿ) : (and) in the four-.
עֶשְׂרֵה (ʿeśrê) : numeral : -teenth.
שָׁנָה (šānâ) : year.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:5b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏בָּא כְדָרְלָעֹמֶר

Transliteration:

bāʾ kᵉdārᵉlāʿōmer

Translation (ASV):

came Chedorlaomer

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

The Hebrew reads "came."

Glossary (meanings in this context):

בָּא (bāʾ) : Qal perfect 3 m.s. of ‏בּוֹא (bôʾ) : came.
כְדָרְלָעֹמֶר (kᵉdārᵉlāʿōmer) : Chedorlaomer.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:5c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְהַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ

Transliteration:

wᵉhammᵉlākim ʾᵃšer ʾittô

Translation (ASV):

and the kings that were with him

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

Kedorlaomer [= Chedorlaomer]. This king heads the eastern confederacy.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְהַמְּלָכִים (wᵉhammᵉlākim) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + definite article + plural of ‏מֶלֶךְ (melek) : and the kings.
אֲשֶׁר (ʾᵃšer) : relative : that.
אִתּוֹ (ʾittô) : preposition ‏אֵת (ʾēt) + pronominal 3 m.s. suffix : [were] with him.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:5d):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־רְפָאִים בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם

Transliteration:

wayyakkû ʾet-rᵉpāʾîm bᵉʿaštᵉrōt qarnayim

Translation (TNIV):

and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

the Rephaites. The Hebrew lacks the article (cf. 15:20). The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain, though LXX renders the term "giants." They inhabited the Bashan, the northernmost part of Transjordan (Deut. 3:13). The Ammonites called them Zamzummites (Deut. 2:20).
Ashteroth Karnaim. Ashteroth near Karnaim was capital of Bashan, but its precise location is unknown.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וַיַּכּוּ (wayyakkû) : consecutive וַ (wa) + Hiphil imperfect 3 m.s. of ‏נָכָה (nākâ) : and defeated.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object indicator.
רְפָאִים (rᵉpāʾîm) : Rephaites.
בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹת (bᵉʿaštᵉrōt) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + proper name עַשְׁתְּרֹת (ʿaštᵉrōt) : in Ashteroth.
קַרְנַיִם (qarnayim) : Karnaim.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:5e):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאֶת־הַזּוּזִים בְּהָם

Transliteration:

wᵉʾet-hazzûzîm bᵉhām

Translation (TNIV):

the Zuzites in Ham

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

Zuzites. These people are not otherwise mentioned. Genesis Apocryphon identifies them with Zamzummim, who may have been an offshoot of the Rephaites.
Ham. Tell Ham is approximately 19 miles (30 km) east of Beth Shean.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְאֶת (wᵉʾet) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + direct object indicator : and
הַזּוּזִים (hazzûzîm) : definite article + proper noun ‏זוּזִים (zûzîm) : the Zuzites.
‏בְּהָם (bᵉhām) : preposition ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + proper noun ‏הָם (hām) : in Ham.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:5f):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאֵת הָאֵימִים בְּשָׁוֵה קִרְיָתָיִם

Transliteration:

wᵉʾēt hāʾêmîm bᵉšāwê qiryātāyim

Translation (TNIV):

the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

Emites. The original inhabitants of Moab, they were strong, numerous, and giants (Deut. 2:10-11). Their name means "terrors."
Shaveh Kiriathaim. This is probably the plain of Kiriathaim, the well-known city in the Moabite tableland, 6 miles (10 km) due west of Medeba.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְאֶת (wᵉʾet) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + direct object indicator : and.
הָאֵימִים (hāʾêmîm) : definite article + proper name אֵימִים (ʾêmîm) : the Emites.
בְּשָׁוֵה (bᵉšāwê) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + proper name שָׁוֵה (šāwê) : Shaveh.
קִרְיָתָיִם (qiryātāyim) : Kiriathaim.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:6a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וְאֶת־הַחֹרִי בְּהַרְרָם שֵׂעִיר

Transliteration:

wᵉʾet-haḥōrî bᵉharᵉrām śēʿîr

Translation (TNIV):

and the Horites in the hill country of Seir

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

Horites. Their identity is uncertain. Perhaps the Horites, the aboriginal inhabitants of Mount Seir, are the Hurrians, known from ancient Near Eastern documents of the second millennium B.C. (see Deut. 2:12, 22). Or, if the name derives from a Hebrew root meaning "cave," they may have been cave dwellers.
Seir. This is the hill country southeast of the Dead Sea along the Arabah.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְאֶת (wᵉʾet) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + direct object indicator : and.
הַחֹרִי (haḥōrî) : definite article + חֹרִי (ḥōrî) : the Horites.
בְּהַרְרָם (bᵉharᵉrām) : preposition בְּ (bᵉ) + noun ‏הַר (har) + pronominal 3 m.p. suffix : in their hill country.
שֵׂעִיר (śēʿîr) : Seir.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:6b):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏עַד אֵיל פָּארָן

Transliteration:

ʿad ʾêl pāʾrān

Translation (TNIV):

as far as El Paran

Comment by Bruce K. Waltke in Genesis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001):

El Paran. This is possibly the same as Elath, the harbor at the northern end of the eastern bay of the Red Sea. Paran is a general name for the wilderness of the eastern Sinai Peninsula.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

עַד (ʿad) : preposition : as far as.
אֵיל פָּארָן (ʾêl pāʾrān) : proper name : El Paran.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:6c):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמִּדְבָּר

Transliteration:

ʾᵃšer ʿal-hammidbār

Translation (NJB):

which is on the edge of the desert.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

אֲשֶׁר (ʾᵃšer) : relative : which.
עַל (ʿal) : preposition : [is] adjacent to.
הַמִּדְבָּר (hammidbār) : definite article + ‏מִדְבָּר (midbār) : the wilderness/desert.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:7a):

‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏‏וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־עֵין מִשְׁפָּט הִוא קָדֵשׁ

Transliteration:

wayyāšubû wayyābōʾû ʾel-ʿên mišpāṭ hiwʾ qādēš

Translation (Wenham):

Then they turned and came to Ein-Mishpat, that is, Kadesh

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham in Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Nelson, 1987):

"They turned...." From Eilat they headed in a northeasterly direction toward Kadesh-Barnea, usually identified with the large oasis Ain Hudeirat. Only here is it called Ein-Mishpat, apparently an older name for the site, as the gloss "that is, Kadesh" (cf. verses 2, 3) makes clear. It was an important center for the Israelites during the forty years of wilderness wanderings: Kadesh seems to have been their base (Num 13:26; 20:22). It also represented the southern border of Canaan (Num 34:4)

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וַיָּשֻׁבוּ (wayyāšubû) : consecutive וַ (wa) + Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏שׁוּב (šûb) : then they turned.
וַיָּבֹאוּ (wayyābōʾû) : consecutive וַ (wa) + Qal imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏‏בּוֹא (bôʾ) : and came.
אֶל (ʾel) : preposition : to.
עֵין מִשְׁפָּט (ʿên mišpāṭ) : proper name : Ein-Mishpat.
הִוא (hiwʾ) : feminine singular demonstrative adjective : that is.
קָדֵשׁ (qādēš) : Kadesh.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:7b):

‏‏‏וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־כָּל־שְׂדֵה הָעֲמָלֵקִי

Transliteration:

wayyakkû ʾet-kol-śᵉdê hāʿᵃmālēqî

Translation (Wenham):

and subdued the whole territory of the Amaleqites

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham in Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Nelson, 1987):

"Territory of the Amaleqites." The Amaleqites were a Bedouin-like people who lived in the Sinai peninsula and northern Negeb. Several clashes with them are recorded in the exodus and early monarchy period, which led to great animus against them in Israel (...). It certainly fits that Chedorlaomer should have encountered them near Kadesh.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וַיַּכּוּ (wayyakkû) : consecutive וַ (wa) +Hiphil imperfect 3 m.p. of ‏נָכָה (nākâ) : and they subdued
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object indicator.
כָּל (kol) : construct of ‏כֹּל (kōl) : the whole.
שְׂדֵה (śᵉdê) : construct of ‏שָׂדֶה (śādeh) : territory of.
הָעֲמָלֵקִי (hāʿᵃmālēqî) : definite article + collective ‏עֲמָלֵקִי (ʿᵃmālēqî) : the Amaleqites.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:7c):

‏‏‏‏וְגַם אֶת־הָאֱמֹרִי

Transliteration:

wᵉgam ʾet-hāʾᵉmōrî

Translation (Wenham):

as well as the Amorites

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham in Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Nelson, 1987):

"The Amorites": these are one of the peoples most commonly mentioned in lists of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan and Transjordan. Sometimes the designation is used as a blanket term for all the earlier residents (...).

Glossary (meanings in this context):

וְגַם (wᵉgam) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + adverb ‏גַּם (gam) : and also.
אֶת (ʾet) : direct object indicator.
הָאֱמֹרִי (hāʾᵉmōrî) : definite article + proper name : the Amorites.

[John Reece]

BHS Text (Genesis 14:7d):

‏‏‏‏‏הַיֹּשֵׁב בְּחַצְצֹן תָּמָר

Transliteration:

hayyōšēb bᵉḥaṣᵉṣōn tāmār

Translation (Wenham):

who dwelt in Hasason-Tamar

Comment by Gordon J. Wenham in Genesis 1-15 (WBC; Nashville: Nelson, 1987):

"Hasason-Tamar" ("Gravel dump with palms"; so KB, 330) .... Whichever is the correct location, it is clear that from Kadesh the kings turned northwest back toward the Dead Sea region and the cities of the plain.

Glossary (meanings in this context):

הַיֹּשֵׁב (hayyōšēb) : definite article + Qal participle of ‏יָשַׁב (yāšab) : who dwelled.
‏בְּחַצְצֹן תָּמָר (bᵉḥaṣᵉṣōn tāmār) : preposition ‏בְּ (bᵉ) + proper name ‏חַצְצֹן תָּמָר (ḥaṣᵉṣōn tāmār) : in Hasason-Tamar.