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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 14:10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/14-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/01_Gen_14_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 14:10 - Lot Seized by the Four Kings" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/14-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/14-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/14.htm">Chapter 14</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/14-9.htm" title="Genesis 14:9">◄</a> Genesis 14:10 <a href="/genesis/14-11.htm" title="Genesis 14:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/14.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/14.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />As it happened, the valley of the Dead Sea was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the vale of Siddim <i>was full of</i> slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim <i>was full of</i> asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; <i>some</i> fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits—and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them; but those who remained behind fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar (bitumen) pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them. But the remainder [of the kings] who survived fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the Siddim Valley contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, but the rest fled to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, but the rest fled to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />was full of tar pits, and when the troops from Sodom and Gomorrah started running away, some of them fell into the pits. Others escaped to the hill country. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. As the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell because of the tar pits, but the other kings fled to the hills.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The valley was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away from the battle, they fell into the pits; but the other three kings escaped to the mountains. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, so when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of their people fell into them, while the rest fled to the hill country. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some men fell into the pits, but the survivors fled to the hill country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, but some survivors fled to the hills.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the vale of Siddim was full of slime-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there: and they that remained fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who remained fled to the hills. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Valley of Siddim [is] full of bitumen-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah flee, and fall there, and those left have fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the valley of Siddim is full of bitumen-pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah flee, and fall there, and those left have fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the valley of Siddim, pit, pit of pitch; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah shall flee and shall fall there; and those having remained shall flee to the mountain.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now the woodland vale had many pits of slime. And the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrha turned their backs and were overthrown there: and they that remained fled to the mountain. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now the wooded valley had many pits of bitumen. And so the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah turned back and they fell there. And those who remained, fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah fled, they fell into these, while the rest fled to the mountains.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and those who survived fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the valley of Sedumia was pits upon pits of tar and the Kings of Sadom fled and the King of Amora and they fell there, and those who survived fled to the mountains.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Now the salt valley <i>consists of</i> slime-pits. And the king of Sodom fled and the king of Gomorrha, and they fell in there: and they that were left fled to the mountain country.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/14-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=2969" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/14.htm">Lot Seized by the Four Kings</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">10</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6010.htm" title="6010: wə·‘ê·meq (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- A vale. From amaq; a vale.">Now the Valley</a> <a href="/hebrew/7708.htm" title="7708: ha·śid·dīm (Art:: N-proper-fs) -- A valley near the Dead Sea. Plural from the same as sadeh; flats; Siddim, a valley in Palestine.">of Siddim</a> <a href="/hebrew/2564.htm" title="2564: ḥê·mār (N-ms) -- Bitumen, asphalt. From chamar; bitumen.">was full of tar</a> <a href="/hebrew/875.htm" title="875: be·’ĕ·rōṯ (N-fpc) -- A well, pit. From ba'ar; a pit; especially a well.">pits,</a> <a href="/hebrew/875.htm" title="875: be·’ĕ·rōṯ (N-fpc) -- A well, pit. From ba'ar; a pit; especially a well."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ- (N-msc) -- King. From malak; a king.">and as the kings</a> <a href="/hebrew/5467.htm" title="5467: sə·ḏōm (N-proper-fs) -- A Canaanite city near the Dead Sea. From an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea.">of Sodom</a> <a href="/hebrew/6017.htm" title="6017: wa·‘ă·mō·rāh (Conj-w:: N-proper-fs) -- A city in the Jordan Valley. From amar; a heap; Amorah, a place in Palestine.">and Gomorrah</a> <a href="/hebrew/5127.htm" title="5127: way·yā·nu·sū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To flee, escape. A primitive root; to flit, i.e. Vanish away.">fled,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5307.htm" title="5307: way·yip·pə·lū- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To fall, lie. A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications.">some men fell</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām·māh (Adv:: 3fs) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">into the pits,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7604.htm" title="7604: wə·han·niš·’ā·rîm (Conj-w, Art:: V-Nifal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To remain, be left over. A primitive root; properly, to swell up, i.e. Be redundant.">but the survivors</a> <a href="/hebrew/5127.htm" title="5127: nā·sū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To flee, escape. A primitive root; to flit, i.e. Vanish away.">fled</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: he·rāh (N-ms:: 3fs) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">to the hill country.</a> </span><span class="reftext">11</span>The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food, and they went on their way.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/3-9.htm">2 Kings 3:9</a></span><br />So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/3-16.htm">2 Kings 3:16-20</a></span><br />and he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Dig this valley full of ditches.’ / For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’ / This is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD, and He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/3-22.htm">2 Kings 3:22-23</a></span><br />When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and it looked as red as blood to the Moabites across the way. / “This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/3-26.htm">2 Kings 3:26-27</a></span><br />When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not prevail. / So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great fury against the Israelites, so they withdrew and returned to their own land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/83-9.htm">Psalm 83:9-10</a></span><br />Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, / who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/7-22.htm">Judges 7:22</a></span><br />And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/8-10.htm">Judges 8:10-12</a></span><br />Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army of about fifteen thousand men—all that were left of the armies of the people of the east. A hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen. / And Gideon went up by way of the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their army, taking them by surprise. / When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/34-9.htm">Isaiah 34:9</a></span><br />Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-1.htm">Isaiah 63:1-6</a></span><br />Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/48-44.htm">Jeremiah 48:44</a></span><br />“Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/47-11.htm">Ezekiel 47:11</a></span><br />But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-20.htm">Revelation 14:20</a></span><br />And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-16.htm">Revelation 16:16</a></span><br />And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-17.htm">Revelation 19:17-21</a></span><br />Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, / so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.” / Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-30.htm">Luke 10:30</a></span><br />Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.</p><p class="hdg">slime pits.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Genesis 11:3</a></b></br> And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.</p><p class="hdg">fell.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/8-24.htm">Joshua 8:24</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/83-10.htm">Psalm 83:10</a></b></br> <i>Which</i> perished at Endor: they became <i>as</i> dung for the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/24-18.htm">Isaiah 24:18</a></b></br> And it shall come to pass, <i>that</i> he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.</p><p class="hdg">the mountain.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/19-17.htm">Genesis 19:17,30</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Bitumen</a> <a href="/genesis/14-7.htm">Country</a> <a href="/genesis/13-16.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/13-17.htm">End</a> <a href="/genesis/7-12.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/revelation/20-11.htm">Fled</a> <a href="/revelation/20-11.htm">Flee</a> <a href="/genesis/4-12.htm">Flight</a> <a href="/genesis/9-1.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Gomorrah</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Gomor'rah</a> <a href="/genesis/14-6.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/genesis/12-8.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/james/5-2.htm">Holes</a> <a href="/genesis/14-9.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/genesis/14-6.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-4.htm">Pits</a> <a href="/genesis/8-9.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Siddim</a> <a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Slime</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Sodom</a> <a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Sticky</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-22.htm">Survived</a> <a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Tar</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Vale</a> <a href="/genesis/14-8.htm">Valley</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/2-3.htm">Bitumen</a> <a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Country</a> <a href="/genesis/14-19.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/15-15.htm">End</a> <a href="/genesis/15-12.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/genesis/16-6.htm">Fled</a> <a href="/genesis/16-8.htm">Flee</a> <a href="/genesis/14-15.htm">Flight</a> <a href="/genesis/15-16.htm">Full</a> <a href="/genesis/14-11.htm">Gomorrah</a> <a href="/genesis/14-11.htm">Gomor'rah</a> <a href="/genesis/31-21.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/genesis/19-30.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/genesis/26-19.htm">Holes</a> <a href="/genesis/14-11.htm">Kings</a> <a href="/genesis/16-12.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/genesis/37-20.htm">Pits</a> <a href="/genesis/18-4.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/genesis/14-3.htm">Siddim</a> <a href="/exodus/2-3.htm">Slime</a> <a href="/genesis/14-11.htm">Sodom</a> <a href="/exodus/2-3.htm">Sticky</a> <a href="/exodus/14-28.htm">Survived</a> <a href="/exodus/2-3.htm">Tar</a> <a href="/genesis/14-17.htm">Vale</a> <a href="/genesis/14-17.htm">Valley</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/14-1.htm">The battle of four kings against the king of Sodom and his allies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/14-12.htm">Lot is taken prisoner.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/14-14.htm">Abram rescues him.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/14-17.htm">Melchizedek blesses Abram, who gives him tithes.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/14-21.htm">Abram restores the rest of the spoil to the king of Sodom.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/14.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Now the Valley of Siddim</b><br />The "Valley of Siddim" is believed to be located near the Dead Sea, an area known for its unique geological features. The Hebrew word for "Siddim" suggests a place of fields or plains, indicating a fertile area that was likely attractive for settlement and agriculture. Historically, this valley was a battleground for the kings mentioned in <a href="/genesis/14.htm">Genesis 14</a>, highlighting its strategic importance. The valley's location near the Dead Sea, a region rich in minerals, underscores the wealth and resources that were at stake in this conflict.<p><b>was full of tar pits</b><br />The "tar pits" are significant both geologically and symbolically. The Hebrew term used here can refer to bitumen or asphalt, substances that were abundant in the region. These tar pits were natural traps, illustrating the dangers and unpredictability of the terrain. Symbolically, they represent the moral and spiritual pitfalls that can ensnare individuals and nations. The presence of these pits in the narrative serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's path, as seen in the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.<p><b>as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled</b><br />The "kings of Sodom and Gomorrah" were leaders of cities known for their wickedness, as later chapters in Genesis reveal. Their flight from battle signifies a moment of desperation and defeat. Historically, these cities were part of a coalition that rebelled against the rule of Chedorlaomer, king of Elam. The flight of these kings can be seen as a metaphor for the inevitable downfall of those who oppose God's will and live in sin. It serves as a cautionary tale about the futility of relying on human strength and alliances instead of seeking divine guidance.<p><b>they fell into them</b><br />The phrase "they fell into them" indicates a literal and figurative downfall. The Hebrew verb used here conveys a sense of stumbling or being ensnared, which can be interpreted as both a physical and moral collapse. The kings' fall into the tar pits symbolizes the consequences of their rebellion and sin. It is a vivid illustration of how pride and self-reliance can lead to one's downfall. This event foreshadows the ultimate destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, emphasizing the theme of divine justice throughout the Scriptures.<p><b>but the rest fled to the hill country</b><br />The "hill country" offered refuge and safety, contrasting with the treacherous valley below. In biblical times, hills and mountains often symbolized places of protection and divine encounter. The act of fleeing to the hill country can be seen as a search for sanctuary and a turning point for those who escaped. It highlights the mercy and grace available to those who seek refuge in God, even amidst judgment and chaos. This phrase serves as a reminder of the hope and redemption that God offers to those who turn to Him in times of trouble.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) <span class= "bld">The vale of Siddim was full of slimepits.</span>--That is, of holes whence bitumen had been excavated. Layers of this natural asphalte, well known both to the Greeks and Romans as <span class= "ital">pia Judaica, </span>Judean pitch, still exist on the western side of the Dead Sea; and the places whence it had been dug out, and which are often very deep, formed dangerous impediments in the way of the defeated side.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And the vale of Siddim was full of slime-pits</span>. Literally, <span class="accented">was</span> <span class="accented">pits</span>, <span class="accented">pits</span> (cf. <a href="/2_kings/3-16.htm">2 Kings 3:16</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/42-12.htm">Ezekiel 42:12</a> for examples of repeated nouns) <span class="accented">of slime</span>, bitumen or asphalte, and therefore unfavorable for flight. "Some of the wells near the Dead Sea are 116 feet deep, with a stratum of bitumen fifteen feet in depth, and as black as jet" (Inglis). <span class="cmt_word">And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled and fell there.</span> Stumbled into the pits and perished (Keil, Lange, Murphy), though if the king of Sodom escaped (Ver. 17), the language may only mean that they were overthrown there (Knobel, Rosenmüller, Bush, 'Speaker's Commentary'). <span class="cmt_word">And they that remained fled to the mountain, of Moab, with its numerous defiles.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/14-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now the Valley</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעֵ֣מֶק</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘ê·meq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6010.htm">Strong's 6010: </a> </span><span class="str2">A vale</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Siddim</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשִׂדִּ֗ים‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(ha·śid·dîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7708.htm">Strong's 7708: </a> </span><span class="str2">Siddim -- a valley near the Dead Sea</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was full of tar</span><br /><span class="heb">חֵמָ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(ḥê·mār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2564.htm">Strong's 2564: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bitumen, asphalt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">pits,</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶּֽאֱרֹ֤ת</span> <span class="translit">(be·’ĕ·rōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_875.htm">Strong's 875: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pit, a well</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and as the kings</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶֽלֶךְ־</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Sodom</span><br /><span class="heb">סְדֹ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(sə·ḏōm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5467.htm">Strong's 5467: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sodom -- a Canaanite city near the Dead Sea</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Gomorrah</span><br /><span class="heb">וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(wa·‘ă·mō·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6017.htm">Strong's 6017: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gomorrah -- a city in the Jordan Valley</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fled,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּנֻ֛סוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·nu·sū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5127.htm">Strong's 5127: </a> </span><span class="str2">To flit, vanish away</span><br /><br /><span class="word">some men fell</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּפְּלוּ־</span> <span class="translit">(way·yip·pə·lū-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5307.htm">Strong's 5307: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall, lie</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into [the pits],</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֑מָּה</span> <span class="translit">(šām·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but the survivors</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(wə·han·niš·’ā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7604.htm">Strong's 7604: </a> </span><span class="str2">To swell up, be, redundant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fled</span><br /><span class="heb">נָּֽסוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(nā·sū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5127.htm">Strong's 5127: </a> </span><span class="str2">To flit, vanish away</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the hill country.</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶ֥רָה</span> <span class="translit">(he·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/14-10.htm">Genesis 14:10 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/14-10.htm">OT Law: Genesis 14:10 Now the valley of Siddim was full (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/14-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 14:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 14:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/14-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 14:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 14:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>