Exploring Ancient History - The First 2500 Years
Chapter 21:
PART 3: ABRAHAM'S IMPACT ON HISTORY The Collapse of Assyria The Extent of Abraham's Wealth The Assyrian Empire The Attack into Canaan Abraham's Victory Assyria Halted How This Changed History
The chapter goes on to tell how Abraham and Lot separated because they had too many cattle and too much property. Abraham lived in a tent but that was probably the largest, most comfortable, and best provisioned tent the world has ever seen. It was probably more like a portable house with a dozen rooms.
Before going into chapter 14, notice that God repeated his promise to Abraham (verses 14-17), especially in verse 15: "For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever." The inheritance God gave to Abraham was to be an Eternal inheritance. And an Eternal inheritance of necessity involves and includes everlasting life. Other scriptures prove Abraham was actually an heir of the kingdom of God which includes the entire earth. So the promise of God to Abraham, when carried to its ultimate significance, actually meant if he obeyed God, he would receive Eternal life and the entire earth. Abraham did not have all that wealth just to look at. He had to use his resources to fulfill God's purpose. Now it is time for the exciting story of Genesis 14.
Yes, Assyria was dominating the world and trying to control everything. Let's analyze these kings and their territories more closely. First the king of Shinar is mentioned. At this time Shinar or Sumeria, in southern Mesopotamia was dominated by the city of Erech or Uruk and its famous First Dynasty. This dynasty had boasted such renowned rulers as Cush, Nimrod, and Horus. Following the death of Horus in 1968 his son Amraphel took over. As this verse shows, he was the king who was now ruling. Shinar was his portion of the Assyrian realm β but not for much longer.
Arioch is the Assyrian king who succeeded Horus or Ninyas Zames. He ruled from the city of Ellasar. Ellasar is just another form for Asar or Asshur. Asshur was one of the royal cities of ancient Assyria; it was south of Nineveh. Thus Arioch was in control of northern Mesopotamia. His period of rule was the same as Amraphel's β 30 years, 1968 to 1938 β as given in Assyrian history. Chedorlaomer, the third ruler named, was king of Elam in this period. Elam was the area east of Shinar. The dates of his reign are not known. Apparently he was the main leader of this military expedition into Canaan (verse 4-5).
The last king named is Tidal. He ruled over the portion of the Assyrian realm now called Asia Minor or Anatolia, the area of Turkey. Notice that the Bible designates him "king of nations." (gowy, go'ee) is the Hebrew word for "Nations." At that time Asia Minor was composed of a variety of peoples. The history of ancient Asia Minor is the story of continuous attempts to unite the warring nations of the region into a loose confederacy. In 1938 Tidal was the ruler of this confederacy, an Assyrian king and general ruling over several different nations and peoples.
Consider that the Assyrian realm in the time of Abraham stretched from Elam and Shinar through Canaan and northern Mesopotamia into Asia Minor. But, even beyond that, it extended into Europe because Assyrians had already migrated there. How vast the ancient Assyrian empire actually was has never been fully realized. Many different kinds of people made up the population of this empire but they were all under the domination and control of these four powerful Assyrian overlords.
Why did the Assyrian kings come conquering into Palestine at this time? Notice verse 4: the Assyrians had held these five mayors under subjection and tribute for twelve long years, 1952-1940. Then, "in the thirteenth year (1939) they rebelled." Consequently, the Assyrian overlords went to Palestine to put down the rebellion.
Before the Assyrians met the five Canaanite kings they trampled under other peoples in the region of Palestine. These are listed in verses 5 through 7. After conquering these peoples they got around to conquering the Canaanite Mayors whose armies were no match for those of the mighty Kaisers. In this victory the Assyrians sacked and looted the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. They also took captives. One of them was Lot, the son of Haran, Abraham's wealthy nephew.
It was a serious mistake the Assyrians would pay for! (verses 11-12)
In this pursuit, Abraham was also accompanied by his three confederates, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner (verses 13-14). Josephus gives an interesting account of what took place. He records that Abraham and his men "marched hastily, and the fifth night fell upon the Assyrians, near Dan ... and before they could arm themselves, he slew some as they were in their beds, before they could suspect any harm; and others, who were not yet gone to sleep, but were so drunk they could not fight, ran away" (Antiquities I, X, 1). They pursued those who fled and killed many of them at Hobah near Damascus. Abraham recovered the captives and the stolen goods and brought them back (verse 16).
Now read verse 17 which speaks of "the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him!" Think of what this means. Abraham not only routed the grand Assyrian army β he killed the four top leaders of the Assyrian empire. Amraphel, Arioch, Tidal, and Chedorlaomer were all dead. The power of Assyria was deflated in one night, the course of world affairs was completely changed.
The last section of Genesis 14 reveals that the Eternal, the one who became Jesus Christ, came out personally to meet the returning Abraham! At this point in ancient times he was ruling in Jerusalem (Salem) under the name Melchizedek appearing to people in bodily form. Josephus states, "Now this Melchisedec supplied Abraham's army in an hospitable manner, and gave them provisions in abundance; and as they were feasting, he began to praise him (Abraham), and to bless God for subduing his enemies under him" ( I, X, 2). Read verses 18 through 20. At this feast Abraham "gave him TITHES of all" (verse 20). In Hebrews 7 the Apostle Paul discusses this incident in detail and makes clear that this was the Eternal himself. Before his birth in 4 B.C. Christ appeared on earth many times.
Consider this also. The whole background of events of this time, from the early life of Abraham onward, shows that the Assyrians were imposing one government and one religion in the world that would have stamped out all the truth. Abraham, after going to Palestine, was relatively free of Assyrian problems for a time. But inevitably Satan would have inspired Assyrian persecution upon him again. Thus, if Abraham and his family would have been executed, ALL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S TRUE WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN ERASED FROM THE WORLD SCENE! Shem, though still alive, would have been too old to carry on. It would have been like the true church completely dying out in New Testament times.
But this is something God would never allow to happen. The story behind the story of Genesis 14 is that God, through Abraham, put a screeching halt to ultimate Satanic Assyrian world control. THE YEAR 1938 WAS A KEY PIVOTAL JUNCTURE IN ANCIENT HISTORY WHICH WITNESSED A CHANGE IN THE ENTIRE COURSE OF FUTURE EVENTS! God does intervene in the affairs of men. And think of the parallel in modern history. God used the descendants of Abraham, Britain and America, in the First and Second World Wars to put a stop to potential complete world control by fascism imposed through modern Assyria, the German Reich.
1) Though the Assyrian empire was very extensive in 1938 it had not yet conquered Egypt. The Assyrian leaders would sooner or later have laid plans to launch an attack into the land of the Nile. This would have been relatively easy because Palestine was already under their control and Egypt was only beginning to grow strong! But the annihilation by Abraham changed all that. The fall of Assyria in 1938, when it received its "deadly wound," left Egypt free from conquest thus allowing it to grow to become the leading nation of the ancient world. Egypt was unknowingly preparing for the coming of Joseph and the Children of Israel. God wanted Egypt to be dominate in the middle east, not Assyria. This was of major importance in God's plans for Israel.
2) If Assyria had remained strong, its armies would have conquered the Israelites after they reached Palestine in 1447 under Joshua. (this is assuming that Egypt would not have previously been overrun by Assyrians.) With Assyria on the scene in Mesopotamia the nation of Israel would never have been free to grow to power and greatness under David and Solomon. The Assyrian leaders would never have allowed this if they had seen strong enough to prevent it.
3) The defeat of Assyria by Abraham was so thorough that Assyrian power and influence were not evident for centuries. The decline of Assyria lasted for hundreds of years. The Bible reflects how lasting the effects of Abraham's victory were. The only Assyrian attack upon Israel that is recorded in all the years before the time of the kings of Israel and Judah is in the time of the Judges. In the eight years between 1400 and 1392 Chushan-rishathaim. A king of the Assyrians (so labeled by Josephus in Antiquities V, III, 2), oppressed the sinning Israelites (Judges 3:8). Other than this instance Assyria is not heard of in the Bible for a long period.
That's right! The Assyrian Empire was dealt such a crippling blow in 1938 that it never really grew great till the time of Pul, Shalmaneser, Sennacherib, and Sargon in the 700's. And then, when at its greatest height of power, Assyria COLLAPSED COMPLETELY after having carried the Children of Israel into captivity. This same thing will happen a few years from now. History does repeat. God used Abraham to remove Assyrian power from the world for centuries so that his nation Israel would be free to grow and develop. This is the breathtaking significance of Genesis 14.
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