Dr. Dylan Johnson

And then, of course, there's these references to this strange battle between the four kings of the east and then the five cities of the plain. And so... What's most interesting here, before I even get into the content of Genesis 14, is that this is the story, this is the Sodom and Gomorrah, and then the three other cities, that other biblical texts seem to know.

And then, of course, there's these references to this strange battle between the four kings of the east and then the five cities of the plain. And so... What's most interesting here, before I even get into the content of Genesis 14, is that this is the story, this is the Sodom and Gomorrah, and then the three other cities, that other biblical texts seem to know.

And then, of course, there's these references to this strange battle between the four kings of the east and then the five cities of the plain. And so... What's most interesting here, before I even get into the content of Genesis 14, is that this is the story, this is the Sodom and Gomorrah, and then the three other cities, that other biblical texts seem to know.

They don't know Genesis 18 through 19, at least there's no clear indication. But texts like Amos 4, Hosea 11, and 1st Isaiah, so texts that we tend to date earlier, or at least while there's still a monarchy around, they know this text. They know this story.

They don't know Genesis 18 through 19, at least there's no clear indication. But texts like Amos 4, Hosea 11, and 1st Isaiah, so texts that we tend to date earlier, or at least while there's still a monarchy around, they know this text. They know this story.

They don't know Genesis 18 through 19, at least there's no clear indication. But texts like Amos 4, Hosea 11, and 1st Isaiah, so texts that we tend to date earlier, or at least while there's still a monarchy around, they know this text. They know this story.

And the associations of Sodom and Gomorrah, therefore, are not with sin and punishment and all of the details in chapters 18 and 19, but with the strange battle in chapter 14.

And the associations of Sodom and Gomorrah, therefore, are not with sin and punishment and all of the details in chapters 18 and 19, but with the strange battle in chapter 14.

And the associations of Sodom and Gomorrah, therefore, are not with sin and punishment and all of the details in chapters 18 and 19, but with the strange battle in chapter 14.

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.

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.