deciphered by Pinches state that Chedorlaomer "assembled the Umman-Manda" or

nomad hordes, and the Hebrew goyyim or "nations" is the equivalent of the Babylon

Umman-Manda; Tidal therefore being king of the nomad hordes which adjoined Elam

on the north. We read that war was joined between these kings "in the vale of Siddim,

which is the salt sea" (14: 3).

Its name has been an enigma to commentators, and numerous suggestions have been

put forward. Tomlinson says that the word without the Hebrew vowel points reads

Shedim, the gods of the Canaanite. This however is conjecture and we must leave the

matter there. We shall have occasion to return to verse three when dealing with the fate

of Sodom and the cities of the plain.  In Gen. 14: 5 there is a reference to the early

inhabitants of Canaan, the Rephaim, Zuzim and Emim. These nations will be considered

together when we come to the list given in 15: 19-21.

Let us see what we have learned regarding the trustworthiness of chapter fourteen as

a true record of historic facts.

It would have been something to cause wonder and thanksgiving if one name only of

these conflicting kings had been preserved in the inscriptions, but when we find no less

than three on badly mutilated tablet, our consciousness of Divine providence is

intensified. The critics made rare sport of the idea that Elam had ever extended its

conquests to the borders of the land of Canaan, but once again the statement has been

corroborated by the title "the Father of the land of the Amorites" given to Kudur-Mabug

another King of Elam. "Not so much as one traditional event as a foundation" said the

critic. The lie direct has been given by these "stones crying out". May we be grateful for

the long array of witnesses that the overruling providence of God has stored in the earth

against this day of departure from the Word.

It has been supposed that the consistent testimony of tradition for centuries testifies

that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah lie under the waters which form the Dead Sea. It

is not wise to thrust aside ancient tradition simply because it is either "ancient" or

"tradition", neither is it proper to accept any teaching however plausible, unless it

harmonizes with the inspired Word of God.

"The Companion Bible" apprizes its reader of the falsity of this tradition, saying at

Gen. 19: 25: