Genesis 14:5

And in the fourteenth yeere came Chedorlaomer, and the Kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims, in Ashteroth Karnaim, & the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaueh Kiriathaim; Genesis 14:5 (KJV)

This verse is part of the account of a war involving various kings in the region. To understand the context, we look at the broader narrative in Genesis 14. In that chapter a coalition of four kings, led by Chedorlaomer, waged war against five other kings, including the king of Sodom. These events occurred during the time of Abram (later Abraham) and his nephew Lot. Verse 5 specifically records the conquests of Chedorlaomer and his allies, naming three groups that were defeated.

The Rephaim were a group of giants who lived in the land of Canaan and were known for their great height and strength. Their stronghold was at Ashteroth Karnaim, a city later allotted to the tribe of Manasseh.

The Zuzims, also called the Zamzummims, were another people of the region, considered Rephaim‑like. They were defeated in Ham, a location not definitively identified but thought to be near the Dead Sea.

The Emims were yet another group of giants, residing in Shaveh Kiriathaim. The city of Kiriathaim is believed to have been situated east of the Jordan River.

This verse highlights the military campaign led by Chedorlaomer and his allies, resulting in the subjugation of these three groups and emphasizing the power and conquests of the kings at that time. In the broader narrative, Lot, who was living in Sodom, was captured by Chedorlaomer’s forces during the war. When Abram learned of Lot’s capture, he gathered his trained servants, pursued the enemy kings, rescued Lot, and recovered the spoils taken from Sodom. Thus Genesis 14:5 provides historical context within Abram’s encounters and displays the power dynamics of the region during that period.