These kings made war: these kings is supplied by Revised Standard Version. Hebrew has no subject for the verb other than the four kings. If the translator follows Good News Translation and others, the subject of made war will be “the four kings.” Made war must sometimes be expressed as “fought against” or “attacked.” In some languages it may be necessary to bring information given later in the text to this point for an adequate translation; for example, “the four kings joined together and went to fight against….”

The names of the kings in verse 2 are not repeated in verse 8, but only their cities. By contrast the names of the four attacking kings are repeated in verse 9, but in a different order than in Gen 14.1. For comments on Sodom and Gomorrah, see 10.19; 13.10. The names Bera and Birsha mean “with evil” and “with wickedness” respectively. See “Names in Genesis” in “Translating Genesis,” page 8.

For Admah and Zeboim see 10.19, and for Zoar see 13.10. The names of the five cities appear together only here. Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim occur together in Deut 29.23. Elsewhere Admah and Zeboim occur together only in Hos 11.8. The names of the five kings are found only here. Bela may be an older name for Zoar, but this is uncertain. (Gen 19.20-22 may provide an explanation for giving the city a new name.) Although the leaders named are city rulers, they are referred to as “kings,” the same as for the rulers of nations in Gen 14.1.

Since there is a repetition of the sense of made war later in the text, some translators may wish to make verses 1-2 a kind of opening summary statement or title for the whole story; for example, “(1-2) At that time there was a war in which…. (3-4) It happened like this:….”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .