Dr. Dylan Johnson

Right. So we're talking about the existence of biblical or Israelite and Judahite monarchies. Basically, the time frame we're imagining here is roughly 1000 to 586. So texts produced in that period we call monarchic. Texts produced after 586, when Judahites were exiled into Babylon, we'll call exilic.

Right. So we're talking about the existence of biblical or Israelite and Judahite monarchies. Basically, the time frame we're imagining here is roughly 1000 to 586. So texts produced in that period we call monarchic. Texts produced after 586, when Judahites were exiled into Babylon, we'll call exilic.

And then their return, I mean, there's phases of return, but we'll say roughly 539 and later into the Persian period is post-exilic. So the only text other biblical traditions seem to know is this Genesis 14. So what is Genesis 14? The story basically picks up with, again, it's about Abram. He's living near the city of Hebron.

And then their return, I mean, there's phases of return, but we'll say roughly 539 and later into the Persian period is post-exilic. So the only text other biblical traditions seem to know is this Genesis 14. So what is Genesis 14? The story basically picks up with, again, it's about Abram. He's living near the city of Hebron.

And then their return, I mean, there's phases of return, but we'll say roughly 539 and later into the Persian period is post-exilic. So the only text other biblical traditions seem to know is this Genesis 14. So what is Genesis 14? The story basically picks up with, again, it's about Abram. He's living near the city of Hebron.

That's currently in the West Bank, not too far from Jerusalem, but not at the Dead Sea, importantly. And his brother Lot has settled in the city of Sodom. So that kind of gives us the connection to the bigger picture. But the actual content of Genesis 14, at least the first 11 verses, have nothing to do with Abram, have nothing to do with Lot, have nothing to do with that.

That's currently in the West Bank, not too far from Jerusalem, but not at the Dead Sea, importantly. And his brother Lot has settled in the city of Sodom. So that kind of gives us the connection to the bigger picture. But the actual content of Genesis 14, at least the first 11 verses, have nothing to do with Abram, have nothing to do with Lot, have nothing to do with that.

That's currently in the West Bank, not too far from Jerusalem, but not at the Dead Sea, importantly. And his brother Lot has settled in the city of Sodom. So that kind of gives us the connection to the bigger picture. But the actual content of Genesis 14, at least the first 11 verses, have nothing to do with Abram, have nothing to do with Lot, have nothing to do with that.

It talks about a group of four eastern kings who make war on the cities of the plain. So I suppose I'll start with the eastern kings. So first off, none of these kings are known from history. Their names are clearly meant to evoke Eastern empires. Some are accurate and some are less clear, but we can't identify any of them. The first king is Amraphel, king of Shinar.

It talks about a group of four eastern kings who make war on the cities of the plain. So I suppose I'll start with the eastern kings. So first off, none of these kings are known from history. Their names are clearly meant to evoke Eastern empires. Some are accurate and some are less clear, but we can't identify any of them. The first king is Amraphel, king of Shinar.

It talks about a group of four eastern kings who make war on the cities of the plain. So I suppose I'll start with the eastern kings. So first off, none of these kings are known from history. Their names are clearly meant to evoke Eastern empires. Some are accurate and some are less clear, but we can't identify any of them. The first king is Amraphel, king of Shinar.

Shinar, we know, is how biblical writers refer to the land of Sumer that is extreme south of modern Iraq.

Shinar, we know, is how biblical writers refer to the land of Sumer that is extreme south of modern Iraq.

Shinar, we know, is how biblical writers refer to the land of Sumer that is extreme south of modern Iraq.

Yeah, yeah. So pre-Babylon, Babylon, basically. The next is Ariok, king of Elessar. No idea. No idea about these. There's hypotheses, but really this is the only reference to this king or to this place. The other king is Hedor, Laomar. That's a tricky name because it's an Elamite name. And Elam is pre-Persian Iran. So it's an ancient kingdom as well. And the last is Tidal, king of the Goyim.

Yeah, yeah. So pre-Babylon, Babylon, basically. The next is Ariok, king of Elessar. No idea. No idea about these. There's hypotheses, but really this is the only reference to this king or to this place. The other king is Hedor, Laomar. That's a tricky name because it's an Elamite name. And Elam is pre-Persian Iran. So it's an ancient kingdom as well. And the last is Tidal, king of the Goyim.

Yeah, yeah. So pre-Babylon, Babylon, basically. The next is Ariok, king of Elessar. No idea. No idea about these. There's hypotheses, but really this is the only reference to this king or to this place. The other king is Hedor, Laomar. That's a tricky name because it's an Elamite name. And Elam is pre-Persian Iran. So it's an ancient kingdom as well. And the last is Tidal, king of the Goyim.

And Goyim just means the nations. So these are figures who the biblical writers are associated with extremely great antiquity, but also coming from the East. So before they get to the Dead Sea, we learn about how these kings of the East, they kind of have some kind of coalition. They come together.

And Goyim just means the nations. So these are figures who the biblical writers are associated with extremely great antiquity, but also coming from the East. So before they get to the Dead Sea, we learn about how these kings of the East, they kind of have some kind of coalition. They come together.

And Goyim just means the nations. So these are figures who the biblical writers are associated with extremely great antiquity, but also coming from the East. So before they get to the Dead Sea, we learn about how these kings of the East, they kind of have some kind of coalition. They come together.