In this episode, Rabbi Reinman discusses the Babylonian invasion of Sodom and the reasons for the choice of a circuitous route of approach.
As we follow Abraham into Canaan, we enter the world of the biblical narrative. It is not our purpose here to retell the story of the patriarchs, which is already very familiar to almost everyone who resides in the House of Classical Judaism. Rather, our purpose is to describe the political landscape of the land; to demonstrate the authenticity of the biblical narrative; and to identify the events that would shape the historical destiny of the nascent Jewish nation.
Abraham entered Canaan with Sarah, his wife, and Lot, his nephew, accompanied by hundreds if not thousands of followers and disciples, whom we’ve discussed in Chapter 12, numerous attendants and shepherds and large flocks of sheep and other livestock. Lot also had considerable flocks and his own retinue of attendants and shepherds. The need for pastureland made living in proximity impractical, and Abraham and Lot agreed to part ways but to be there for each other in case of need.
Abraham gave Lot the first choice. He chose to go southward and settled in the lush Jordan valley near the five wealthy cities of Sodom, Amorah, Admah, Zevoim and Zoar, cities that belonged to the Babylonian Empire. Abraham settled near Bethel in the hill country to the north.
In ancient times, there were two kinds of empire. Some empires encompassed conquered tributary states who paid periodic tribute to the imperial power but for the most part governed themselves. The imperial power drew wealth from its provinces and provided a measure of protection but exercised very little control over them, except for punitive visits if they fell behind in their payments. One example of such systems is the Persian Empire that encompassed over a hundred provinces with varying degrees of tribute and control. Another is the Han Dynasty of China, which had tributary relationships with surrounding kingdoms. There were others.
Other empires were actually imperial states. The imperial power conquered and colonized other lands and installed imperial governments to administer them. The Roman and British empires are prime examples.
The Babylonian Empire was a system of tributary states, but it was more complicated. At its core was an alliance of four smaller empires – Shinar, Elassar, Elam and Goim − each with its own system of tributary states. Each empire kept its own tributary income, but if any of the four allies needed to exert military power, the allies acted together. It was an arrangement by which, if the need arose, any of the allies had the capability of exerting overwhelming force beyond its own resources.
The five wealthy cities of the Jordan Valley were tributaries of the distant Elamite imperial state under King Khedorlaomer in Mesopotamia, about a thousand miles away. They paid their undoubtedly hefty tribute regularly for twelve years, and then they decided that enough was enough. They would take their chances. The Babylonian alliance was not about to accept this defection, but a military campaign a thousand miles away was a major logistical undertaking; events in the ancient world moved at a glacial pace.
In the fourteenth year of the defection, the four powers of the Babylonian alliance sent a massive army to Sodom and its sister cities. The dominant power seems to have been Shinar, whose King Amraphel of Shinar is the first of the four mentioned, but we are told that “King Khedorlaomer and the kings that were with him” were the invaders.
The route of the invasion was north along the Euphrates River, then west through Syria before turning south toward Canaan. They crushed the Rephaites at Ashteros-karnaim, the Zuzites at Ham, the Emites at Shaveh-kiriasaim, the Horites in the Seir Mountains as far as Eil-parran, which is by the desert. Then they crossed the desert and turned back toward
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