Genesis 14:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Beloved, let us not overlook what has been communicated, assuming that this account lacks significance. The Holy Scripture provides an extensive narrative precisely so that we may understand the might of these invaders and the bravery they displayed as they charged into combat, overcoming even formidable warriors and subduing the various peoples of that land. Just as a powerful current can draw in and devastate all in its path, these invaders launched assaults on many nations, nearly annihilating them and defeating the leaders of the Amalekites along with others. One might wonder what benefit arises from acknowledging the strength of these foes.

Four monarchs journeyed from Babylon and vanquished the giants, known as the raphaim (רְפָאִים֙): all the mighty warriors of Arabia, Zozim (זּוּזִ֖ים) in the settlement of Hom (הָ֑ם) and Emim (אֵימִ֔ים) in the city of Saveh, which retains that name even today. Nevertheless, Zuzim and Emim signify ‘fearsome’ and ‘awe-inspiring.’ In contrast, the Seventy Interpreters, opting for a translational approach based on meaning rather than a word-for-word rendering, described them as ‘extremely valorous tribes.’ Ultimately, due to the resemblance in the characters, the Seventy Interpreters believed that the term bahem (בְּהָ֑ם), which they translated as ἅμα αὐτοῖς, should have been written with he, when in fact it is written with heth. The term bahem comprises three letters: if the middle letter were he, it would translate to ‘in them,’ while here, with heth, it refers to the name of the location, meaning ‘in the village of Hom.’

Regarding the kings who united in battle, as mentioned in the 14th chapter of Genesis, it is crucial to understand that they were not sovereigns ruling over extensive territories and numerous cities. Instead, each was the ruler of a single city, akin to princes, all under the overarching dominion of Assyria. This is why the Jewish historian Josephus labels the conflict involving the Sodomites as an Assyrian war. Prior to the ultimate destruction of the Sodomites, the Lord permitted their enemies to invade and take them captive, aiming to encourage them to forsake their wickedness and seek repentance. The compassionate God, who does not desire the demise and ruin of sinners—despite their deserving of eternal condemnation—does not immediately punish them.

Rephaim. The Rephaim were among the nations whose territory God pledged to give to the Israelites (Genesis 15:20). They inhabited Bashan (Numbers 12:4, Numbers 13:12). In the Septuagint, the term Rephaim is occasionally used interchangeably with the word for giants, and this usage appears in some passages of Scripture (Deuteronomy 2:11). This leads to a hypothesis regarding the characteristics of the Rephaim people. The Emims. They resided in the region of Moab before the descendants of Lot (Deuteronomy 2:10).