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  • Have Faith Like That of Abraham!
    The Watchtower—2001 | August 15
    • The Enemy Attacks

      16. (a) Why are the opening words of Genesis 14:1 ominous in tone? (b) What was the reason for the invasion of the four eastern kings?

      16 “Now it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam,c and Tidal king of Goiim, that these made war.” In the original Hebrew, the opening words (“Now it came about in the days of . . . ”) have an ominous tone, pointing “to a period of trial ending in blessing.” (Genesis 14:1, 2, footnote) The trial began as these four eastern kings and their armies made their devastating invasion of Canaan. Their objective? To squelch the rebellion of the five cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela. Sweeping aside all resistance, they “marched as allies to the Low Plain of Siddim, that is, the Salt Sea.” Lot and his family lived nearby.​—Genesis 14:3-7.

  • Have Faith Like That of Abraham!
    The Watchtower—2001 | August 15
    • c Critics once claimed that Elam had never had such an influence in Shinar and that the account of Chedorlaomer’s attack was a fabrication. For a discussion of archaeological evidence supporting the Bible’s account, see The Watchtower, July 1, 1989, pages 4-7.

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