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Gungunum (1932 BCE to 1906 BCE)
Senusret I (1971 BCE to 1926 BCE)
God Made a Covenant with Abram (1921 BCE)Chedorlaomer, King of Elam, Subjugates the Five Kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar.
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- Date
01 Jul 1925 BC
- Category
- History
- Classification
- Conflict or Crisis
Description
According to the biblical account in chapter 14 of Genesis, Chedorlaomer, monarch of Elam (the region of present-day Iran), established a military hegemony over the region of the Vale of Siddim. Leading a coalition of four kings — which included Amraphel of Shinar, Ariokh of Elasar, and Tidal, king of Goiim — he subdued the five city-states of the plain: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (later called Zoar). For twelve years, these kingdoms were forced to pay tribute to the Elamite empire, living under political and economic dependence. This period of domination is fundamental for understanding the geopolitics of the ancient Middle East and serves as a prelude to the revolt that occurred in the thirteenth year, culminating in Abraham's intervention to rescue his nephew Lot. Historians and archaeologists debate the exact historicity of the event, often associating it with the Middle Bronze Age and Elamite incursions into the Levant.
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Notes
The dating of -1925 follows the traditional chronology of James Ussher for the beginning of the servitude of the cities of the plain. The end of the event (-1913) marks the beginning of the rebellion after 12 years of tribute. There is no absolute academic consensus on the archaeological identification of Chedorlaomer with Elamite kings recorded in Sumerian or Akkadian royal lists.