Genesis 14:7 kjv
And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
Genesis 14:7 nkjv
Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
Genesis 14:7 niv
Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazezon Tamar.
Genesis 14:7 esv
Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
Genesis 14:7 nlt
Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
Genesis 14 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 13:26 | "They went and came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh." | Israel's encampment at Kadesh. |
| Num 20:1 | "Then the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh..." | Miriam dies and Israel camps at Kadesh. |
| Num 20:13 | "These are the waters of Meribah, because the people of Israel contended with the Lord, and he showed his holiness among them." | Water from rock incident at Kadesh (Meribah). |
| Deut 1:46 | "So you remained at Kadesh many days, as you had remained there." | Israel's long stay at Kadesh. |
| Ezek 47:19 | "...the southern boundary, from Tamar to the waters of Meribah-kadesh, to the Brook of Egypt, and to the Great Sea." | Kadesh marks a future southern border of Israel. |
| Gen 14:6 | "and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness." | Previous step in the coalition's campaign, showing direction. |
| Exod 17:8-16 | "Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim... 'The Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.'" | Major conflict between Israel and Amalekites. |
| Deut 25:17-19 | "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way... you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget." | Divine command to destroy Amalek. |
| 1 Sam 15:2-3 | "Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them..." | Saul's failed command against Amalekites. |
| 1 Sam 30:1 | "Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid..." | Amalekites as persistent raiders. |
| Esth 3:1 | "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes..." | Haman, an Amalekite descendant, against the Jews. |
| Gen 15:16 | "And in the fourth generation your descendants shall come back here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." | Prophecy of future Israelite conquest over Amorite lands. |
| Num 21:21-35 | "Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 'Let us pass through your land'... But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass... So Israel struck him down..." | Israel's defeat of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og. |
| Deut 3:8 | "So at that time we took from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land beyond the Jordan..." | Moses recalls the conquest of Amorite territory. |
| Josh 24:18 | "Then the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land." | Yahweh's action in dispossessing the Amorites. |
| Judg 1:34-36 | "The Amorites pressed the people of Dan into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain..." | Amorites resist Israelite settlement. |
| 2 Chr 20:2 | "Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, 'A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, En-Gedi).'" | Hazezon-tamar as a strategic entry point for invaders. |
| Song 1:14 | "My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-Gedi." | En-Gedi (Hazezon-tamar) as a fertile, beautiful place. |
| Ezek 47:10 | "And fishers will stand beside it from En-Gedi to En-Eglaim..." | En-Gedi associated with plentiful waters. |
| Deut 2:34 | "And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivor." | Parallel account of complete military destruction. |
| Josh 6:21 | "Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword." | Description of "smoting" through utter destruction. |
| Gen 10:16 | "the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites" | Amorites listed among the sons of Canaan. |
Genesis 14 verses
Genesis 14 7 Meaning
This verse describes a specific stage in the military campaign of Chedorlaomer and his allied kings. Having ventured southward and eastward, they reversed course, marching westward and then northward. Their route brought them to En-Mishpat, identified as Kadesh, a significant landmark in the desert. Along this path, they executed devastating attacks, comprehensively defeating the people in the territory of the Amalekites and specific groups of Amorites who inhabited Hazezon-tamar, an oasis known for its palms. This action demonstrates their strategic control and brutal efficiency in clearing a path towards their primary targets.Genesis 14 7 Context
Genesis chapter 14 describes the first recorded full-scale war in the Bible, predating Abraham's significant role in the rescue of Lot. A confederacy of powerful kings from Mesopotamia and their allies, led by Chedorlaomer of Elam, launched a punitive expedition against five city-states of the Jordan plain (including Sodom and Gomorrah) who had rebelled after thirteen years of servitude. This campaign was not a direct march but a methodical and strategic sweep through the wider region. The kings systematically attacked various semi-nomadic and settled groups living throughout Transjordan, the Mount Seir range, and the southern wilderness. Verse 7 specifically marks a crucial turn in their advance. After reaching their southernmost point near El Paran, they pivoted and began their northward journey towards the cities of the plain, ensuring to subdue all groups in their path. This verse details their actions against the inhabitants of the southern and western reaches of their route, highlighting their dominance before they finally confronted the rebelling kings.Genesis 14 7 Word analysis
- And they returned: וַיָּשֻׁבֽוּ (vayyashuvu). From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn, return." This verb indicates a change in the coalition's strategic direction. Having advanced south to El Paran (Gen 14:6), they now turned northwest, initiating the second leg of their sweep through the land. This precision in their movements underscores a well-planned and thorough military campaign.
- and came: וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (vayyavo'u). From the root בּוֹא (bo'), meaning "to come, enter." It signifies their arrival at a significant geographic point after their strategic turn.
- to En-Mishpat: עֵֽין מִשְׁפָּט֙ (Ein Mishpat). Literally, "Spring of Justice" or "Spring of Judgment." עֵין (ein) refers to a natural spring, a vital water source in arid regions. מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) implies judgment, custom, or justice. This name suggests the location was historically a site for dispute resolution or tribal assemblies. Its ancient name reflects its importance as a landmark.
- (that is, Kadesh): הִ֣וא קָדֵ֑שׁ (hi' Qadesh). A clarifying gloss provided by the biblical author or redactor for the later Israelite audience. הִוא (hi') means "it is." קָדֵשׁ (Qadesh) means "holy" or "set apart." Kadesh (later known as Kadesh Barnea) became profoundly significant as the primary encampment of Israel during much of their wilderness wandering (Num 20:1; Deut 1:46). Its holiness might derive from its tribal significance or later divine encounters, as seen at Meribah (Num 20:13). The parenthetical clarifies the ancient name with a more familiar one for the target audience.
- and smote: וַיַּכּוּ֙ (vayyakku). From the root נָכָה (nakah) in the Hiphil stem, indicating a decisive, destructive military strike or defeat. This is not merely a skirmish but a forceful subjugation, implying death, injury, and destruction. It portrays the coalition's overwhelming power and ruthlessness.
- all the country: כׇּל־שְׂדֵ֤ה (kol-sedeh). כֹּל (kol) means "all, whole." שְׂדֵה (sedeh) means "field, open country, territory." This signifies that the defeat was comprehensive, covering the entire populated area of the Amalekites.
- of the Amalekites: הָעֲמָלֵקִי֙ (ha'Amaleki). The earliest mention of the Amalekites as an existing people inhabiting this southern wilderness region. Although not yet the full nation descendant from Esau (Gen 36:12), this suggests pre-existent tribal groups known by this name, perhaps proto-Amalekite clans. Their presence here, later a perennial foe of Israel (Exod 17:8-16; Deut 25:17-19), sets an early precedent for their role as wilderness antagonists.
- and also: וְגַם֙ (vegam). "And also, moreover, in addition to." This conjunction introduces another group targeted by the campaign, emphasizing the broad scope of their subjugation.
- the Amorites: אֶת־הָאֱמֹרִ֔י (et-ha'Emori). A major group within the Canaanite peoples, often described as powerful inhabitants of both the Transjordan and the land west of the Jordan. Their mention highlights the diverse populations subject to the Mesopotamian kings.
- that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar: הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּחַצְצֹ֥ן תָּמָֽר׃ (hayyoshvim beHatsehtson Tamar). הַיֹּשְׁבִים (hayyoshvim) means "who were dwelling" (a participle, indicating continued residence). חַצְצֹן תָּמָר (Hazezon-tamar) means "Felling of Palms" or "Division of Palms." This oasis is generally identified with En-Gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea (2 Chr 20:2). The name might allude to harvesting palms or geographical features. This specific localization clarifies that the target was a particular group of Amorites inhabiting a key, fertile area rather than the entire widespread Amorite populace, demonstrating precise military targeting of strategic locations.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And they returned and came to En-Mishpat (that is, Kadesh)": This phrase signals a critical turning point and directional change in the military campaign. After pushing deep into the southern desert, the coalition began its strategic movement northward, focusing on routes that would lead them to their rebellious vassals in the Dead Sea plain. The parenthetical identification of En-Mishpat with Kadesh underscores the geographical continuity and importance of these sites for the audience's understanding of ancient landmarks that would become central to Israel's own history.
- "and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar": This passage highlights the comprehensive and brutal nature of the coalition's conquest. Their "smiting" implies utter defeat and destruction of the inhabitants and their territories. By targeting the Amalekites, they established dominance over semi-nomadic groups in the southern wilderness. Their attack on the Amorites at Hazezon-tamar (En-Gedi), a fertile oasis and strategic choke point on the western shore of the Dead Sea, was vital for securing their flank and logistical control as they advanced toward the rebellious city-states. This detailed targeting shows their methodical approach to subduing the entire region surrounding their primary objective.